UPSSSC Test 23
Click the textarea below and start typing to begin the test.
The Bundelkhand region, encompassing seven districts of Uttar Pradesh — Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Banda, Chitrakoot, and Mahoba — has historically been characterised by water scarcity, drought vulnerability, and economic backwardness, making it one of the most challenging regions for development administrators. The semi-arid climate, shallow rocky soils, and erratic monsoon patterns make Bundelkhand highly susceptible to consecutive drought years, which have led to repeated agrarian distress and migration of rural populations to cities in search of livelihoods. The challenge of water availability has been central to all developmental planning for the region. Traditional water harvesting systems including ponds, talavs, and small check dams have historically sustained Bundelkhand's communities, but many of these have fallen into disrepair due to neglect and changing land use patterns. The Ken-Betwa river interlinking project has been proposed as the most significant long-term solution to Bundelkhand's water problem. This project, which received environmental and judicial clearances after prolonged deliberations, involves diverting surplus water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to the water-deficit Betwa river, which then flows into Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand districts. The project is expected to provide irrigation water to lakhs of hectares of agricultural land in Bundelkhand and provide drinking water security to towns and villages in the region. The government has also been implementing the Bundelkhand Special Package, which includes investments in irrigation infrastructure, drinking water projects, rural roads, and livelihood programmes. Watershed development initiatives have helped restore traditional water bodies and improve groundwater recharge. Promotion of drought-resistant crops, micro-irrigation, and farm ponds has helped farmers adapt to the challenging agro-climatic conditions. However, the full transformation of Bundelkhand will require sustained multi-decade commitment to water infrastructure development.