State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 11 Jun 2025

Concerns Over Ken-Betwa Project in Panna Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

Wildlife experts and forest officials have raised concerns that construction under the Ken-Betwa river linking project is severely impacting wildlife in Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR).

Key Points 

• About Panna Tiger Reserve: 
  • Panna is the 22^nd Tiger Reserve in India and the 5th in Madhya Pradesh. 
  • It lies in the Vindhyan Ranges, covering parts of Panna and Chhatarpur districts in northern Madhya Pradesh. 
  • Panna National Park was established in 1981. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994. 
    • The National Park consists of areas from the former Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary created in 1975. 
  • The forests in the reserve were once hunting grounds for the royal families of the former princely states of Panna, Chhatarpur, and Bijawar. 
  • Flora:  
    • Dominated by dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands.  
    • In the north, the reserve is surrounded by teak forests.  
    • To the east, it is bordered by Teak-Kardhai mixed forests.  
  • Fauna:  
    • The reserve is home to a significant population of tigers, sloth bears, leopards, and striped hyenas.  
    • Other notable carnivores include jackals, wolves, wild dogs, jungle cats, and the rusty spotted cat.  
    • The Vindhya Hill ranges, running from NE to SW, help connect the eastern and western populations of wildlife. 
• Ken-Betwa River Linking Project Overview and Purpose: 
  • The Prime Minister launched the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project in December 2024, aiming to channel excess water from the Ken River to Betwa. 
  • The project seeks to provide drinking water to about 6.5 million people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 
  • Construction and Forest Impact: 
    • In March 2025, authorities began constructing a road to the Daudhan dam site in the core Chandra Nagar range of PTR. 
    • Trees on 15 hectares of forest land were cut, triggering wildlife migration from the affected area. 
  • Wildlife Disturbance and Migration: 
    • Herbivores are moving northwards, disrupting traditional territorial zones. 
    • Monkeys and birds are fleeing the area due to the growing human presence and machinery at the project site. 
    • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) raised concerns about forest degradation and prey scarcity in PTR 
    • An April 2025 Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report showed prey density had fallen to 6 animals/sq km — well below the ideal 30–60. 
  • Government Measures: 
    • The displaced wildlife will be relocated to newly notified areas: 
      • Ranipur Tiger Reserve (UP) 
      • Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve (MP) 
      • Dr Bhim Rao Wildlife Sanctuary (MP) 
    • Plans are underway to translocate prey species from other forests to PTR. 
    • To mitigate the environmental impacts, the government has planned compensatory afforestation and wildlife relocation measures.  
      • The expansion of the reserve by 60 square kilometers has been proposed, with land acquisition already in progress in Chhatarpur and Panna districts. 
    • The Ministry of Environment approved the project with three conditions: 
      • Expanding PTR’s boundaries. 
      • Planting 2.5 million trees as compensatory afforestation. 
      • Monitoring tiger and leopard behaviour via radio-collaring. 
    • So far, the forest department has acquired only 30% of the land earmarked for afforestation.