Ken Betwa project: 15-day protest ends after MP police clear demonstration site; here's why tribals were protesting

Published 19 July 2026 · india

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Sunday ended a 15-day protest against the Ken-Betwa Link and other development projects after clearing the agitation site and sending

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Sunday ended a 15-day protest against the Ken-Betwa Link and other development projects after clearing the agitation site and sending protesters back to their villages. Some villagers alleged that movement leader Amit Bhatnagar was detained, while the police denied making any arrests, news agency PTI reported. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What are the main reasons for the tribal protests against the Ken-Betwa project? ⌵ Tribal protesters are demanding lawful implementation of the Ken-Betwa project while protecting the constitutional rights of affected individuals. They have raised concerns over land acquisition, rehabilitation, and environmental safeguards. 2 How did the Madhya Pradesh Police clear the protest site for the Ken-Betwa project demonstration? ⌵ The Madhya Pradesh Police intervened by arriving at the protest site early in the morning, where they reportedly removed protesters and transported them back to their villages, denying any arrests were made. 3 What actions did the protesters take during the Ken-Betwa project demonstration? ⌵ Protesters engaged in various forms of protest including observing a jal satyagraha, a chita satyagraha, and a symbolic faansi satyagraha, led by movement leader Amit Bhatnagar, who was on a hunger strike.

4 Why do supporters argue that the Ken-Betwa Link project is controversial? ⌵ Supporters view the project as controversial due to its potential negative impacts, including displacement of local families, effects on the environment, and harm to local wildlife, particularly within the Panna Tiger Reserve. 5 What led to the end of the 15-day protest against the Ken-Betwa Link project? ⌵ The 15-day protest concluded after police actions cleared the demonstration site, combined with the worsening health condition of protest leader Amit Bhatnagar, who was hospitalized after a prolonged hunger strike. Here's what happened On Sunday, protest leader Divya Ahirwar alleged that a large contingent of police personnel arrived at the demonstration site around 5 am and detained the movement's leader along with several protesters before he could address the media on what she described as an alleged ₹400 crore corruption scandal linked to the project. However, a police official noted that the protesters were staging the demonstrations beneath an under-construction bridge and in the river, where rising water levels posed a grave safety risk. The official added that Bhatnagar was hospitalised because he had been on a prolonged hunger strike, adding that his condition was worsening.