Koppal: Minister CR Patil on Thursday said a desilting plan would be prepared for the Tungabhadra reservoir shortly and placed before the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a move that could increase the dam’s storage capacity by 25-30 per cent and improve water availability for farmers.
Addressing a gathering after the inauguration of 33 newly installed spillway gates at the Tungabhadra Dam near Munirabad, Patil said desilting had emerged as a priority as reservoirs across the country were losing storage capacity due to the accumulation of silt.
Quoting a report with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said of the six and half thousand dams in the country, on average, lost around 15 per cent of their storage capacity because of siltation. The Tungabhadra reservoir, he noted, was facing a similar challenge.
“More than 15 per cent of the reservoir’s capacity has been affected by siltation. We have informed the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana that the Centre will prepare a plan and provide technical support for desilting. While the implementation would have to be undertaken by the states, the Centre would facilitate decisions and extend technical support at the earliest,” he said.
Patil expressed confidence that desilting could enhance the reservoir’s storage capacity by as much as 25 to 30 per cent, benefiting lakhs of farmers dependent on the dam’s waters.
Thanking the Chief Ministers of the three states for working together to replace the damaged spillway gates, he said the same spirit of cooperation would be needed for the desilting project as well.
Recalling the frequent disputes that once marked water-sharing discussions in southern India, Patil said it was encouraging to see Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana come together on a common platform.
“There was a time when states fought over water and were unwilling to sit together. Today, the three Chief Ministers have shown a commitment to cooperation. Their approach is not to fight but to ensure that water reaches everyone without injustice to any state,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with Prime Minister Modi’s efforts to improve road connectivity across the country, the minister said the Prime Minister was also working towards better utilisation and sharing of water resources.
“If more water becomes available through such initiatives, farmers can grow two crops instead of one, which will directly improve their incomes,” he added.
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