📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gyanendra_Singh_Chau…
Politics
MP High Court Orders Centre, State to Answer Ken-Betwa Link Impact Report in 2 Weeks
✍️ Amar Ujala · Jabalpur
🗓 13 Oct 2026, 09:46 PM
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The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the central and state governments to submit their response on the environmental impact assessment of the Ken‑Betwa link project within two weeks, seeking the Central Empowered Committee’s report and details of governmental actions.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a directive requiring both the Union government and the state administration to furnish a written response within fourteen days regarding the environmental implications of the Ken‑Betwa link project. The court specifically asked for the report prepared by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that examined the project's ecological impact, as well as details of any remedial measures taken by the authorities.
The Ken‑Betwa link, a large‑scale inter‑river water transfer scheme, aims to divert water from the Ken River to the Betwa basin to address water scarcity in several districts of the state. While proponents cite irrigation and drinking‑water benefits, environmental groups have raised concerns about forest loss, displacement of wildlife and changes to riverine ecosystems.
By seeking the CEC’s findings and the governments’ actions, the bench intends to assess whether the project complies with statutory environmental safeguards. The court’s order underscores the judiciary’s role in ensuring that large infrastructure initiatives undergo rigorous scrutiny before proceeding.
The two‑week deadline places pressure on the ministries to compile the requested documents and may influence the timeline for any further approvals or modifications to the project’s implementation plan.
The Ken‑Betwa link, a large‑scale inter‑river water transfer scheme, aims to divert water from the Ken River to the Betwa basin to address water scarcity in several districts of the state. While proponents cite irrigation and drinking‑water benefits, environmental groups have raised concerns about forest loss, displacement of wildlife and changes to riverine ecosystems.
By seeking the CEC’s findings and the governments’ actions, the bench intends to assess whether the project complies with statutory environmental safeguards. The court’s order underscores the judiciary’s role in ensuring that large infrastructure initiatives undergo rigorous scrutiny before proceeding.
The two‑week deadline places pressure on the ministries to compile the requested documents and may influence the timeline for any further approvals or modifications to the project’s implementation plan.