weit wa fier aftraxor store fae ora afta Hares, aR TRETe wertrasras (oa sane, 72) fore sie wen exeToT Are) Bhopai Singh National Water Development Agency Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India Director General (Department of Water Resource, River Development and Gangs Rejection D.O. No. NWDA/Teeh-11/152/1/2019/}373 7 Date: 92/06 facra Dear 8h Karman As you are aware, the Stage-I Clearance/ In-Principle approval for diversion of 6017 ha of forest land for Ken-Betwa Link Project, Phase-I was granted by MoFF&CC vide letter dated 25.05.2017 subject to certain conditions which inter —alia include identification of 6017 ha of revenue land by the Government of MP and its transfer to Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) authorities, In this regard, Secretary, MoWR,RD&GR vide letter dated 30 July, 2018 had requested Secretary, MoEF&CC 10 consider the indentified land of 4206 ha for Compensatory Afforestation (CA) and double of the remaining 1811 ha i.e. 3622 ha degraded forest land for CA (copy enclosed). In response, Secretary, MoLF&CC vide letter dated 19" December, 2018 (copy enclosed) intimated that concerned officials of the MoF&CC have been suggested to examine the request of MoWR.RD&GR and to take up the matter with the appropriate authority if the matter can be reconsidered. In this regard Additional Director General (Forest Conservation) vide D.O letters dated 17.07.2019 and 05.02.2020 (copies enclosed) was also requested to . expedite the matter. However, the response is still awaited. During the Seventeenth meeting of Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers held on 26.02.2020 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, also the Additional Chief Secretary, WRD, Govt of MP mentioned that GoMP could identify only 4206 ha revenue land for transfer to Panna Tiger Reserve authorities. For remaining areas of 1811 ha, he expressed that in lieu of this, afforestation in double the degraded forest land may be permitted. Secretary (DOWR,RD&GR) also mentioned that it is a normal practice to consider compensatory afforestation in double of the degraded forest land and should be accepted by MoEF&CC. He requested MoEF&CC to relax the conditions and requested Madhya Pradesh to take up the matter with MoEF&CC for relaxation. In view of the above, I would like to request you to look into the matter and expedite the With Reged : Yours Sincerely, Enel: as above Coe C of Bhopal Singh) same. Shri Sanjay Kumar Director General of Forest & Special Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forest &CC, Indra Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110003 18-20, ungarfre Ox, wba, ag fee / 18-20, Community Centre, Saket, New Delhi-110017 ‘GATS / Phone : 011-26519164 /41033995 SaE / Fax : 011-26513846 war A. 305, wifer@r Tag, aw. yen, Gaex—t3, at Peeh—110086 Room No. 305, Palika Bhawan, R.K. Puram, Sector-13, New Delhi-110066. GRATY / Phone : 011-24195726 / 24195700, Bae / Fax : 011-24195727 Ya /E-mail : dg-nwda@nic.in Iause / Website : www.nwda.gov.inD.O, No. NWDA/Tech-II/152/6/2017/Vol.-II July 30, 2018 Dear cfa As you are aware, the Stage-I Clearance/In-Principle Approval for diversion of 6017 ha of forest land for Ken-Betwa Link Project, Phase-I was granted by MoEF&CC vide letter dated 25.05.2017 subject to certain conditions which inter-alia include identification of 6017 ha of revenue land by the Govt. of MP and its transfer to Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) authorities and bringing of Nauradehi and Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuaries of MP and Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary of UP under the Project Tiger before the commencement of work. Government of Madhya Pradesh has expressed difficulties in providing 6017 ha of revenue land and resettlement & rehabilitation of the families residing in the revenue land to be identified. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of MP vide letter dated 11.10.2017 requested Hon'ble Minister of WR,RD&GR to take up the issue of relaxation of the condition of transfer of 6017 ha of revenue land to PTR Authorities, The above matter was discussed with Director General of Forests and Special Secretary on 25" May 2018 and as per decisions taken during the discussions, a team of NWDA officers visited the eastern and western parts of the PTR and collected land records of 7 villages on eastern side of Ken River. In these 7 villages, 2179.07 ha non-forest land is available which can be considered for Compensatory Afforestation. NWDA team also collected land records of 3 villages on western side of Ken river. These 3 villages are having 1009 ha non- forest land which can also be considered for Compensatory Afforestation. Further, about 1018 ha non-forest land shall also be available in two other villages coming under partial submergence of Daudhan dam. Thus, total non- forest land available for transfer to the Forest Department for Compensatory Afforestation works out to 4206 ha ([.e. 2179 ha +1009 ha +1018 ha). Hence, it Is proposed that 4200 ha. of revenue land and double the remaining 1811 ha, |e. 3622 ha can be provided from the degraded forest land in Chhattarpur district in lieu of 6017 ha. of revenue land. ‘As far as the notification regarding bringing of Nauradehi and Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuaries of MP and Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary of UP under the Project Tiger, NWDA vide letter dated. 07.06.2018 has already requested ---2/- ere gee iat — Gee Qe wa CONSERVE WATER - SAVE LIFEGovt. of MP & UP for the notification. However, this notification may take time and hence notification and commencement of work simultaneously may be allowed, Keeping in view of above, I would request you to kindly consider the revenue land of 4206 ha as identified above and double of the remaining 1811 ha i.e. 3622 degraded forest land for Compensatory Afforestation and allow commencement of works simultaneously with the notification of core / critical Tiger Habitat for expeditious implementation of KBLP. The terms and conditions in Stage-I/In-principle clearance may be modified accordingly. Yours i with pag ards, UPL ingh ) Shri C.K, Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & CC, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, 3” Floor, Vayu Wing, Jor Bagh, New Delhi - 110 003.