Thousands of villagers in Madhya Pradesh are protesting against the multi-billion-dollar Ken-Betwa river-linking project, fearing it will displace them and destroy their livelihoods. The project, with a budget of 440 billion rupees ($5.06 billion), aims to transfer excess water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh through tunnels, canals, and a dam.

As India's first river-linking initiative under the National Perspective Plan, the project has faced delays due to environmental concerns and political disputes. Despite these challenges, the government approved the project in 2021, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in December 2023. Officials claim it will help the drought-prone Bundelkhand region by irrigating 1.06 million hectares of land, providing drinking water to 6.2 million people, and generating 130MW of hydropower and solar energy.

However, the project will submerge 10 villages and large forest areas to create the dam's reservoir, while another 11 villages will be displaced for the canal's construction. More than 7,000 families, mostly from the indigenous Gond and Kol tribes, will be affected. The villagers, who rely on agriculture, fear losing their land and homes with no clear alternative.

Environmentalists warn that nearly 98 square kilometers of the Panna Tiger Reserve will be submerged, threatening the fragile ecosystem. The reserve, which successfully reintroduced tigers after local extinction in 2009, could suffer severe setbacks. Conservationist Amit Bhatnagar expressed concerns over using a national park's core area for large-scale infrastructure, calling it an unprecedented move.

A Supreme Court panel had previously questioned the project’s economic feasibility and impact on wildlife, suggesting alternative irrigation methods instead. A 2023 study in *Nature Communications* further indicated that river-linking projects could worsen India's water stress, making them ineffective or even counterproductive.

Despite these warnings, National Water Development Agency head Baleshwar Thakur defended the project, asserting that it had received all necessary environmental clearances. He acknowledged potential biodiversity challenges but maintained that the project's benefits outweigh its negative effects. He also mentioned government efforts to allocate additional land for tiger habitats and rehabilitate displaced wildlife.

These assurances have done little to ease villagers' fears. In Daudhan village, protestors voiced their frustration through songs lamenting their uncertain future. Many highlight the irony that while the project will provide electricity to 13 districts, their own village has never had power.

The government has offered a compensation package, giving villagers a choice between land with a cash grant of 750,000 rupees ($8,655) or a lump sum of 1,250,000 rupees ($14,425). Landowners will receive additional compensation based on property value. According to officials, about 90% of affected residents have accepted the lump sum.

However, villagers argue that the compensation is inadequate. Some claim they were offered as little as 46,000 rupees for their homes—far too little to rebuild. Others say they have not been informed about evacuation timelines or resettlement plans, increasing anxiety about their future.

Critics also challenge the claim that the Ken River has excess water. They argue that the government relied on outdated data from 2003 without independent verification. Officials deny this, insisting they have accurate data to proceed with the project.

Environmentalists warn that by pushing forward with the Ken-Betwa project, the government is setting a dangerous precedent for similar projects in ecologically sensitive areas. Many argue that once again, development in India is coming at the expense of the most marginalized communities.