Madhya Pradesh Approves Ken-Betwa Link Project | 15 Mar 2024

Why in News?

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the establishment of a Chitrakoot Development for the holy town’s development and gave nod to the Rs 24,293 crore Ken-Betwa link project.

Key Points

  • After the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Chitrakoot also witnessed a huge influx of devotees. Lord Ram had spent 11 years in exile in Chitrakoot.
    • The state cabinet has approved Rs 20 crore for the Chitrakoot Development authority.
  • The Ken-Betwa project will benefit the three states- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
    • The project will bring an additional 6,57,364 hectares of drought affected areas in Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Datia and Vidisha, Shivpuri, Raisen under irrigation.
    • Drinking water facility can be extended to a population of 44 lakh people.
  • The cabinet also approved extension of the Chief Minister Solar Pump Scheme, which will now be implemented as “Pradhan Mantri Krishak Mitra Surya Yojana”.
  • The scheme will be implemented by the Madhya Pradesh Power Development Corporation as per the guidelines issued under the Kusum ‘B’ scheme of the Union government.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana (PM-KUSUM)

  • It was launched in March 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), to subsidize farmers to install solar irrigation pumps for cultivation.
    • Each farmer will receive a 60% subsidy to set up tube wells and pump sets.
    • They will also get 30% of the total cost as a loan from the Government.
  • The primary objective of the PM-KUSUM Scheme is to make cutting-edge technology available to our farmers and provide sources for de-dieselized irrigation to the agricultural sector.
  • The main objectives of this scheme are:
    • The solar pumps assist our farmers in much more effective and eco-friendly irrigation as these are capable of generating safer energy.
    • In addition, the pump sets comprise an energy power grid that generates more energy than diesel-driven pumps.
    • Farmers will be able to sell the extra power to our Government directly to enhance their income.
  • KUSUM comprises 3 components that have different features:
    • Component A: Install a total of 10GV grid-connected stilt-mounted decentralized solar plants and other renewable energy-based power plants. Each plant is sized up to 500 KW to 2MV.
    • Component B: Install stand-alone solar pumps of up to 7.5HP individual capacity and worth 17.50 lakh.
    • Component C: Provide financial support to Solaris 10 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps of 7.5HP of capacity each.