BHOPAL: Putting a question mark over the feasibility of the controvertial Ken-Betwa Link project, a delegation of the people of Panna termed the project a conspiracy to take the river water out of Bundelkhand .

The group of people led by the Dilhar Kumari, 'rajmata' of the former princely state of Panna confronted the central empowered committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court on Thursday. The CEC is visiting Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) to look into the controversies surrounding the project.

The ambitious river linking scheme of the NDA government involves deforesting of a major portion of the PTR in Madhya Pradesh , was accorded clearance by the National Wildlife Board on the condition that the land lost would be compensated by acquiring contiguous, revenue land to ensure wildlife corridors in the region aren’t hit.

People of Panna said that the report that became the basis for the clearance of the project was “false and misleading” and violated all the norms. They urged the CEC to “produce” the “ground realities” in the apex court.

Headed by PV Jaikrishnan, chairman of the CEC, the four-member committee visited the places including Panna National Park where the first phase of the project is to be implemented. The CEC visited Panna after a petition was filed challenging the approval given by the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife in respect of the project.

The controvertial Rs 35,000-crore project was delayed for its environmental issues and disputes arising out of sharing of water between UP and MP among others involves construction of a dam on River Ken, which is a major river in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh; to transfer “surplus” water to Betwa basin of Uttar Pradesh .

The dam is to be constructed right inside the Panna Tiger reserve that will lead to submergence of best of its tiger habitat, environmentalists said.

The ex-royal of Panna Dilhar Kumari said, “registering our protest, we told the CEC that the general perception is that the project is prepared to end the water crisis Bundelkhand but the fact remains that it is a conspiracy to take the Ken water out of Bundelkhand to Betwa basin.

Talking to TOI, she said, “a serious thought is required to be given on how to end the water crisis of the parched region Bundelkhand.”

“After the construction of the dam and the canal, the Panna Tiger Reserve will be divided into two parts and the wild animals would not be able to cross the dam,” she said expressing apprehensions about the feasibility of the river linking project.

The group of people under the aegis of Panna Parivartan Evam Vikas Manch also told the CEC members that many of the “flora and fauna” mentioned in the project report report do not even exists in the jungles of Panna.

