**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Power to the Lok Sabha regarding siltation levels in reservoirs and dams under the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL). It outlines the current siltation status, government actions, and future plans for desiltation and sediment management. The answer was provided on December 18, 2025, in response to Unstarred Question No. 3109.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Siltation Levels:**
* Bhakra reservoir has lost approximately 26% of its total gross storage and 19% of its live storage.
* Pong reservoir has lost about 14% of its total gross storage and about 12% of its live storage.
* Nathpa reservoir is maintaining 100% gross and live storage
* Naitwar reservoir is maintaining 100% gross and live storage
* **Sediment Management Actions:**
* The Government of India supports dam owners in sediment management activities.
* The Central Water Commission published a "Handbook for Assessing and Managing Reservoir Sedimentation" in 2019.
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti published a "National Framework for Sediment Management" in October 2022.
* BBMB is exploring deep dredging operations without lowering water levels.
* SJVNL has proposed bathymetric surveys for the Nathpa Dam.
* Silt flushing is carried out as required, particularly during the monsoon season, to preserve live storage capacities.
* **Proposals and Support:**
* BBMB has submitted a desiltation/dredging proposal to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
* BBMB receives support under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) for improved safety aspects and efficient dam management.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)**
* **Impact:** BBMB is directly impacted by the siltation issues in its reservoirs (Bhakra and Pong).
* **Action Required:** BBMB should continue to explore deep dredging operations, work with the Himachal Pradesh Government to clear its desiltation proposals, and utilize support from DRIP for dam safety and management improvements.
**Stakeholder: Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL)**
* **Impact:** SJVNL is managing sediment in its dams/barrage structures.
* **Action Required:** SJVNL should conduct regular bathymetric surveys for the Nathpa Dam to monitor sediment accumulation and plan reservoir flushing.
**Stakeholder: Government of Himachal Pradesh**
* **Impact:** The Government of Himachal Pradesh is responsible for reviewing and approving desiltation proposals submitted by BBMB.
* **Action Required:** The Government should facilitate the timely clearance of BBMB's desiltation proposals.
Key Entities Referenced
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB): Operates Bhakra and Pong dams and is the primary entity responsible for management of reservoirs and dams under consideration.
Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL): An entity that operates the Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station and is responsible for management of reservoirs and dams under consideration.
Himachal Pradesh: State where Bhakra and Pong dams are located, and the state government is involved in reviewing proposals related to desiltation and dredging.
Handbook for Assessing and Managing Reservoir Sedimentation: A guiding document published by Central Water Commission for sediment management activities.
National Framework for Sediment Management: Framework document published by Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti, providing guidance and support for sediment management across river basins.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3109
ANSWERED ON 18.12.2025
SILTATION LEVELS IN RESERVOIRS AND DAMS UNDER BBMB
3109. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:
Will the Minister of POWER
be pleased to state:
(a) the present siltation levels in reservoirs and dams under Bhakra Beas Management
Board (BBMB) and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) along with major desiltation
and sediment-management steps taken by the Government to restore designed storage
capacity;
(b) the recent actions initiated by the Union Government to accelerate desiltation in
these reservoirs for improving hydropower sustainability and strengthening downstream
flood-mitigation;
(c) the desiltation, dredging, catchment-area treatment, reforestation and flushing-
related proposals submitted by BBMB and SJVNL that are currently pending with the
Himachal Pradesh Government and the steps being taken by the Government to
facilitate their timely clearance;
(d) whether BBMB and SJVNL are considering additional measures such as advanced
dredging technologies, updated hydrographic surveys and predictive sediment-
modelling systems to address high silt inflow, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the integrated financial, technical and policy support the Ministry plans to
extend to BBMB and SJVNL to prevent further storage-loss, enhance reservoir safety
and strengthen national water and energy security and if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a): Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) operates two storage dams namely
Bhakra dam and Pong dam in Himachal Pradesh. As on date, Bhakra reservoir has lost
about 26% of its total gross storage of 9.87 BCM and about 19% of its live storage of
7.43 BCM. Pong reservoir has lost about 14% of its total gross storage of 8.57 BCM and
about 12% of its live storage of 7.30 BCM. Further, BBMB also operates two diversion
structures namely Nangal dam and Pandoh dam, where flushing of silt is carried out
during monsoons.
……..2.- 2 -
Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) has two projects with dam/barrage
structures namely Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (HPS) (1500 MW) and Naitwar
Mori HPS (60 MW). Both projects are run-of-river schemes with small pondage. As on
date, Nathpa reservoir is maintaining 100% gross storage of 3.43 MCM and live storage
of 3.03 MCM. Further, Naitwar reservoir is maintaining 100% gross storage of 0.281 MCM
and live storage of 0.206 MCM. Silt flushing is carried out as required, particularly during
the monsoon season, to preserve live storage capacities.
(b) : Considering the requirement of sediment management of reservoirs on priority,
Government of India has initiated some proactive actions to support the dam owners to
take up sediment management activities. As a step forward, a “Handbook for Assessing
and Managing Reservoir Sedimentation” has been published by Central Water
Commission in 2019 as a guiding document to plan and execute sediment management
activities by the dam owners. Further, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Jal
Shakti has published a framework document titled "National Framework for Sediment
Management" in October 2022 to provide guidance and support for sediment
management across river basins.
(c) : Regarding desiltation and sediment-management, BBMB has submitted a
proposal for de-siltation/ dredging of its dams to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
However, no such proposal in respect of SJVNL is pending with the Government of
Himachal Pradesh.
(d) : BBMB is exploring the possibility of deep dredging operations without lowering
water levels. Further, SJVNL has proposed for conducting regular bathymetric surveys,
used to measure the depth and underwater topography of the reservoir, for the Nathpa
Dam to monitor sediment accumulation and to plan reservoir flushing for optimising
storage capacity.
(e) : Under Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) phase II and III, BBMB
is being supported for improvement of safety aspects of selected dams for sustainable
water storage, efficient dam management and flood control aspect.
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