Ken-Betwa Protests: Centre Defers to State on Displacement Grievances

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has told Lok Sabha that complaints regarding displacement from the Ken-Betwa River Link project in Madhya Pradesh have been forwarded to the State government and district authorities. The Ministry stated that the State government is responsible for implementing the Forest Rights Act and related rehabilitation measures.

This response came on August 6, following questions raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi about the project's impact on local communities.

Locals in the affected areas have been protesting for months. In April, demonstrations began, and in July they were relaunched after earlier government outreach failed. Visuals from the protest site at the Barana river in Chhattarpur district showed participants placing nooses around their necks and lying on symbolic pyres inside the water. On July 19, police cleared the protest site and removed nearly 150 demonstrators. Activist Amit Bhatnagar of the Jai Kisan Sangathan, who had been on a hunger strike for 14 days, was taken to hospital.

The Ken-Betwa project is part of the National Perspective Plan for water resources development and interlinking of rivers, formulated in 1980. The plan aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river to the Betwa river by constructing the Daudhan Dam and a 221-kilometre canal, including a two-kilometre tunnel. The project is expected to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.

According to the government, over 7,000 families will be displaced. However, protesters have raised several concerns, including demands for increased compensation, allegations of irregularities in selecting beneficiaries for the compensation package, and procedural impropriety in obtaining Gram Sabha consent under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

In response to the MPs' questions, which sought details on the number of affected families, tribal families, compensation paid, Gram Sabha meetings held, and grievances raised, the Ministry largely deferred to the State government. It cited the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, noting that all activities related to land acquisition, compensation, and rehabilitation are being carried out by the State government.

The Ministry also said that the implementation of the Forest Rights Act is a State subject. This is why the Centre has redirected the complaints raised by protesters to the Madhya Pradesh government and district authorities.

The explanation highlights the division of responsibilities under India's federal structure. While the project is funded and overseen by the Centre, the execution of land acquisition and rehabilitation falls within the State's domain. This has led to a situation where grievances are passed between different levels of government, leaving affected communities seeking clarity on accountability.

The issue also brings to the forefront the challenges of balancing large infrastructure projects with the rights of indigenous and local populations. The Forest Rights Act requires Gram Sabha consent before forest land can be diverted for non-forest purposes. The protesters claim that this consent was not properly obtained, while the State government has not publicly addressed these allegations in detail.

As the protests continue, the question of who is ultimately responsible for addressing the concerns of displaced families remains unresolved. The Centre's response suggests that the State government must take the lead, but the State has yet to demonstrate a clear plan to engage with the protesters.