Punjab Begins Desilting Rivers and Bhakra Dam

Punjab’s Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal has announced that desilting operations will soon begin across the state’s rivers to help prevent future flooding.

The state is also preparing to undertake its first-ever desilting project for the Bhakra Dam reservoir, a move expected to increase storage capacity by over 25%. A unique challenge, however, arises with the Beas River, now designated as a Ramsar site, which requires special permissions before any desilting activity can be carried out. Of the 85 sites identified for desilting, 28 lie along the Beas, while tenders have already been floated for 36 sites. The state is currently seeking clearance to ensure desilting is carried out without disturbing wildlife.

Regarding the Bhakra Dam, the Minister highlighted that sedimentation has reduced the reservoir’s storage capacity by 26% since its commissioning, making the desilting initiative both timely and essential.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.