Chita Andolan (Pyre Protest)

People affected by the Ken–Betwa Link Project and other irrigation projects in the districts of Madhya Pradesh have resumed the ‘Chita Andolan’ (Pyre Protest).

• The protest restarted on the banks of the Barana River near Kupi village in Panna district after assurances given by the administration in April 2026 were allegedly not fulfilled.
• The movement is being led primarily by tribal women, who have raised the slogan “Provide us justice or death.”
• Protesters allege that the government has failed to honour promises related to rehabilitation, compensation, resettlement, and relief packages for project-affected families.

About Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP)

• The Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first and only project under implementation of India’s National Perspective Plan (NPP) for interlinking rivers.
• It aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River basin to the water-deficit Betwa River basin.
• The project seeks to improve irrigation, drinking water supply, and socio-economic development in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• In Phase-I a 77 m high dam, namely Daudhan is proposed across river Ken. In Phase-II, Lower orrdam, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Projects were included to meet the water requirement of water shortage areas of Betwa basin.

Sources: DTE & PIB

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