The Genesis of the Greater Panna Landscape Council

The inception of the GPLC is closely tied to the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the premier river interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP). Here's why the council was formed:

• The KBLP was proposed as a transformative initiative for the drought-stricken Bundelkhand region, promising to bring socio-economic prosperity.
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) formulated the Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) to safeguard wildlife and biodiversity in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) and its adjacent areas, as a part of the KBLP project.
• The establishment of the GPLC was to ensure the effective and timely execution of the ILMP.

Objectives of the Greater Panna Landscape Council

The primary aim of the GPLC is to strike a balance between conservation and development, taking into consideration various stakeholders. The council aims to:

• Improve the habitat, protection, and management for flagship species like tigers, vultures, and gharials in the landscape.
• Strengthen the landscape for overall biodiversity conservation and promote the welfare of forest-dependent communities.
• Provide species-specific and site-specific monitoring strategies under integrated landscape management and incorporate feedback loops and adaptive management options.

Insight into the Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project

The Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project is an ambitious initiative aimed to transfer surplus water from the River Ken to the Betwa basin using a concrete canal. This project is expected to provide a significant boost to the irrigation facilities in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region in India. Below are some key aspects of this project:

• The project will primarily benefit Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, providing water for irrigation, drinking, and electricity in six districts across these states.
• The proposed canal, extending over 221 km, will traverse through various districts such as Jhansi, Banda, Mahoba, Chhatarpur, Panna, and Tikamgarh.
• A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed between the Centre and the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

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