Bhakra Dam to Undergo First-Ever Desilting After Losing 25% Storage to Silt
Iconic Bhakra reservoir choking on silt, massive cleanup begins.
For the first time in its 61-year history, the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej river faces a landmark desilting operation after silt accumulation has devoured nearly 25–26 per cent of the Gobind Sagar reservoir’s live storage capacity since commissioning in 1963. The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to supervise the unprecedented exercise following in-principle approval from the Himachal Pradesh government.
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has identified Bilaspur upstream as the primary desilting site where water levels remain low for eight months annually, enabling heavy machinery deployment. The reservoir currently receives 38–39 million cubic metres of silt every year, far exceeding the 33.61 million cubic metres originally projected in the dam’s design. Experts warn that without intervention, the reservoir could lose 35–40 per cent of its capacity by 2050, threatening irrigation and power generation across northern India.
The pilot project, expected to last one year, will now be placed before the Himachal Pradesh Assembly for formal clearance. Excavated mineral-rich silt will be supplied to the National Highways Authority of India for road construction, while revenue from sand and other minerals will be shared among Himachal Pradesh, BBMB, and partner states Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, with the host state receiving the largest share and standard mining royalties.
Also Read: President Murmu Hosts Guard of Honour as PM Modi, Putin Proceed to Hyderabad House for Talks
Separately, BBMB has proposed a ₹6,500-crore, 1,500 MW pumped-storage hydropower project just five kilometres upstream at Dobar village under the public-private partnership model. Detailed surveys have confirmed four feasible locations across the reservoir, positioning Bhakra to not only reclaim lost storage but also significantly enhance its peaking power capability in the coming decade.
As the iconic dam that once symbolised India’s post-independence engineering prowess battles an existential silt threat, the Centre’s decisive intervention marks the beginning of a new chapter aimed at restoring the reservoir’s longevity and securing water and energy security for millions downstream.
Also Read: Wedding Party Vehicle Plunges Into Gorge in Uttarakhand, Five Killed
