CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Background: On 22nd March 2021, a historic agreement was signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the first major centrally driven river interlinking project in the country.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Third Meeting of Steering Committee of Ken-Betwa Link Project (SC-KBLP) was held today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Detailed explanation-3: -In December 2021, the Union Cabinet approved KBLP at a total cost of Rs 44, 605 crore. In this project, the national and the Madhya Pradesh governments will link the Ken river with the Betwa river so that the latter can water the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh.

Detailed explanation-4: -NATIONAL RIVER LINKING PROJECT. The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water, for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins.

Detailed explanation-5: -This 20-member committee will be headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Chief Engineer of National Water Development Authority will be its member secretary.