Will the household water chlorination rate be 65% or higher for households served in the first two years of Evidence Action's program in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh?
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India: Ken-Betwa River Project Sparks Environmental Battle
Above: Sadhu holy man sitting on rocks on the Betwa River in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India on Jan. 2, 2022. Image copyright: Chris Caldicott/Contributor/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This project is vital for addressing water scarcity in the drought-prone regions of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Transferring surplus water from the Ken to the Betwa boost irrigation, enhance agriculture, and generate hydropower. The project's feasibility is grounded in detailed planning under the National Perspective Plan, promising sustainable water management and economic growth while keeping ecological concerns front and center.
Narrative B
This project is flawed and unnecessary, especially since sand mining and droughts have already depleted the Ken River, questioning the surplus water premise. It will also require felling millions of trees, submerging the Panna tiger reserve, and displacing 21 villages, essentially threatening entire ecosystems and livelihoods. Given these devastating environmental and financial costs, it would be far more appropriate to restore ancient tanks.