Action Plan Prepared for Tungabhadra Desilting

The Tungabhadra High-Level Committee has decided to form a sub-committee to prepare a detailed plan for removing accumulated silt from the Tungabhadra reservoir, including methods, estimated costs, and implementation procedures. The sub-committee has been asked to study desilting methods followed in other states and submit recommendations. The first meeting of the high-power committee constituted by the Centre under the Ministry of Jal Shakti was held in Delhi to discuss issues related to the Tungabhadra dam and its catchment area.

The meeting discussed reduced water storage capacity due to silt accumulation, its impact on irrigation, drinking water supply, hydropower generation, the proposed Navali reservoir, and the Rajoli Banda Diversion Scheme issues. Telangana requested modernization of the RDS dam and canal works, while Andhra Pradesh proposed expanding the Navali reservoir as a balancing reservoir and sought an additional 15 TMC of water allocation. The committee decided to hold another meeting within 15 days.