Executive Summary:
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding water scarcity and dam desilting in the Bundelkhand region. It acknowledges water scarcity issues due to erratic rainfall and siltation in dams. The government provides details on dam storage capacities, siltation levels, and outlines existing schemes to support state-led water resource management. The response was given on July 24, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Water Scarcity in Bundelkhand:**
* Farmers in the Bundelkhand region, including Jhansi and Lalitpur districts, face water scarcity due to erratic rainfall.
* Actual rainfall in Jhansi and Lalitpur over the past 7 years has been 669 mm and 810 mm, respectively, compared to the normative rainfall of 817 mm.
* **Dam Siltation:**
* Several major and minor dams in the Bundelkhand region have experienced siltation, reducing their water storage capacity.
* Reported loss in gross storage capacity due to siltation: Matatila Dam (31.14%), Rajghat Dam (6.25%), Saprar Dam (8.50%) and Pagara dam (17.88%).
* Current storage capacities (Million Cubic Metre - MCM) against original capacities:
* Matatila Dam: 678.71 MCM vs 985.65 MCM
* Rajghat Dam: 12036.34 MCM vs 2172 MCM
* Saprar Dam: 69.66 MCM vs 76.20 MCM
* Pagara Dam: 98.87 MCM vs 120.4 MCM
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Water/irrigation is a state subject; therefore, planning, execution, and maintenance of irrigation projects are carried out by state governments.
* The central government provides technical and financial assistance to state governments through schemes like Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to encourage sustainable water resource management.
Impact Analysis:
* **Farmers in Bundelkhand Region:**
* *Impact:* Face water scarcity due to erratic rainfall and reduced dam storage capacity. Government initiatives aim to improve irrigation support.
* *Action Required:* To utilize available irrigation resources efficiently and participate in state-led agricultural programs.
* **State Governments (Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for planning, executing, and maintaining irrigation projects, including dam desilting and restoration. Receive support from central government schemes.
* *Action Required:* To conduct regular dam capacity surveys, prioritize dam desilting and restoration projects, and utilize central government schemes for financial and technical assistance.
* **Central Water Commission:**
* *Impact:* Acts as an information provider to the central government regarding the status of dam capacities.
* *Action Required:* Continue to provide data and assist state governments with technical expertise for dam management and rehabilitation.
Key Entities Referenced
Bundelkhand region: A geographical region in India, encompassing parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, characterized by water scarcity and agricultural challenges.
Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh: A district within the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, facing water scarcity issues.
Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh: A district within the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, facing water scarcity issues.
Matatila Dam: A major dam located in Uttar Pradesh, within the Bundelkhand region, experiencing storage capacity loss due to siltation.
Rajghat Dam: A dam located in Uttar Pradesh, experiencing storage capacity loss due to siltation.
Saprar Dam: A dam located in Uttar Pradesh, experiencing storage capacity loss due to siltation.
Pagara dam, Madhya Pradesh: A dam located in Madhya Pradesh, experiencing storage capacity loss due to siltation.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): A Government of India scheme aimed at improving irrigation efficiency and water management in agriculture.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 872
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
DESILTING OF DAMS IN BUNDELKHAND REGION
872. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that farmers frequently face acute water scarcity due to erratic rainfall
in the Bundelkhand region including Jhansi and Lalitpur districts and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is also a fact that several major and minor dams in this region have accumulated 40% to 60%
silt thereby significantly reducing their water storage capacity and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to initiate desilting and restoration works for these dams to enhance
their holding capacity and improve agricultural benefits and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the current storage capacity of key dams in the region, including Sirsagar (363.93 MCM),
Shahzad (321.00 MCM), Matatila (641–742 MCM), Sukhnai (52.00 MCM), Saprar (76.00 MCM), etc.; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to restore the full capacity of these dams and ensure sustainable
irrigation support to farmers in the region?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydro-
meteorological and geological factors. Due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation in a
region, the water availability may result in water stress conditions. As per the data available, against the
normative rainfall of 817 mm per year, the average actual rainfall in districts Jhansi and Lalitpur has been
669 mm (82%) and 810 mm (99%) in last 7 years.
(b) to (e) Dam owners, which are mostly the State Government, generally conduct the capacity survey of
their dams at regular intervals for evaluating their lifespan and ensuring optimal reservoir operations. As per
the information provided by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Central Water Commission, the
reported loss in gross storage capacity of the Matatila Dam, Rajghat Dam, Saprar Dam (all three dams
located in Uttar Pradesh) and Pagara dam (Madhya Pradesh), which have been surveyed, is 31.14%, 6.25%,
8.50% & 17.88% respectively due to siltation. The current storage capacity of the Matatila Dam, Rajghat
Dam, Saprar Dam and Pagara dam located in Bundelkhand region is 678.71 Million Cubic Metre (MCM),
12036.34 MCM, 69.66 MCM and 98.87 MCM against their original capacity of 985.65 MCM, 2172 MCM,
76.20 MCM and 120.4 MCM.
Water/irrigation being a state subject, planning, execution and operation and maintenance of
irrigation projects including repairing and strengthening of dams, embankments and canals are carried out
by the State Governments from their own resources and as per their own requirements and priority of works.
In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Government of India provides technical and
financial assistance to state governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of
water resources through various schemes/programmes such as Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project
(DRIP-II&III), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) etc.
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