Ken-Betwa Link: Adivasis Fear Displacement as Daudhan Dam Work Pushes On

Evening had fallen over Daudhan village in Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region. A soft beat of a dhol came from the distance as the dump trucks and heavy machines fell silent. Inside his bakhri (mud house), Munni Lal sat chatting with his neighbours. About 500 metres away, construction work on the Daudhan dam, across the Ken river, continued. The dam is the main part of the Ken-Betwa river-linking project.

For Munni Lal and his fellow villagers, many of whom belong to the Gond and other Adivasi communities, the sound of the dhol is a reminder of their cultural identity and their connection to the land. But the machines and the rising structure signal a future they say they do not want. “We don’t want to leave. This is our ancestral land. Our gods and ancestors are here. How can we abandon them?” said Munni Lal, speaking in a quiet but firm voice.

The Ken-Betwa river-linking project is one of the most ambitious initiatives under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers. It aims to transfer water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh to irrigate drought-prone Bundelkhand. The project is expected to provide irrigation to about 6.35 lakh hectares of land and generate 78 MW of hydropower. The Daudhan dam is the central component, and its reservoir will submerge portions of the Panna Tiger Reserve and several villages, including Daudhan.

For the Adivasi communities living in the project-affected area, the cost is not just the loss of homes and farmlands but the erosion of a way of life. Many families have lived here for generations, relying on the forest and the Ken river for their livelihoods. They collect minor forest produce, fish, and practice small-scale farming. The displacement, they fear, would push them into unfamiliar territories where they have no land rights, no social networks, and little chance of economic survival.

The resistance has taken various forms, from peaceful protests and public meetings to legal challenges. Local organisations and activists have argued that the project violates the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. They have also pointed out that the environmental clearance for the project was granted without adequately assessing the impact on the Panna Tiger Reserve and the livelihoods of the dependent communities.

The government, however, maintains that the project is crucial for the development of Bundelkhand, one of the most water-scarce regions in the country. Officials say that adequate rehabilitation and resettlement packages have been prepared, including land for land, housing, and employment opportunities. They also argue that the project will bring drinking water, irrigation, and economic prosperity to millions of people.

“The Ken-Betwa link is a lifeline for Bundelkhand. While we understand the concerns of the affected families, the government is committed to ensuring that they are compensated fairly and resettled with dignity,” said a senior official of the National Water Development Agency, who did not wish to be named.

In Daudhan village, the dhol beats continue, but the mood is sombre. Munni Lal and his neighbours say they are not against development, but they want it to happen without forcing them to sever their roots. “We have heard about the compensation and the new houses. But what about our fields, our forests, our community? A house cannot replace our life,” he said.

The Ken-Betwa project has been in the works for decades, and the Supreme Court has allowed construction to proceed in phases, with the condition that certain mitigation measures are followed. But for the Adivasis of Daudhan, the battle is far from over. As the sun sets, the sound of the dhol and the rumble of machines fill the air — two sounds that represent two competing visions of progress.

The coming months will be critical as the authorities begin the process of eviction and rehabilitation. The villagers hope that their voices are heard, and that a balance can be struck between the need for water and the rights of those who call this land home.