Lok Sabha Question No. 4639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Silt Accumulated in  Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4639

## ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025

## SILT ACCUMULATED IN RIVERS

## 4639. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

## SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

## Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  the  current  estimated  volume  of  silt  accumulated  in  the  rivers  of  Maharashtra,  specifically  the Godavari, Krishna, Bhima, Tapi and Narmada during the last decade;

(b) whether the Government has conducted a comprehensive impact assessment of silt accumulation on the ecological health, water carrying capacity, flood incidence and groundwater recharge of these rivers and if so, the findings thereof;

(c) the primary anthropogenic and natural factors contributing to increased siltation in these rivers;

(d)  the  details  of  the  specific  desilting  projects  currently  underway  or  planned  for  the  major  rivers  in Maharashtra  and  Madhya  Pradesh  along  with  the  timeline  fixed  and  the  budget  allocated  for  each project;

(e)  the  measured  effectiveness  of  past  and  ongoing  desilting  operations  in  terms  of  increasing  river capacity, reducing flood risk and improving riverine ecosystems; and

(f) whether any independent evaluations of the said projects have been conducted and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) Erosion and deposition of silt in a river are natural regulating functions of a river. This is caused by various natural geological, geo-morphological, hydrologic, climatic factors like floods, inflow of sediment from the drainage basin, heavy rainfall and anthropogenic activities, etc. They define the river morphology which continues to change over time. Rivers tend to maintain a balance between the silt load carried and silt load deposited, maintaining a river regime.

Morphological  studies  of  15  major  rivers  have  been  conducted  by  Central  Water  Commission (CWC) using remote sensing technique which includes Krishna and Tapi among others. The study of Krishna river is based on the data for the period 1973 - 2011, indicating total erosion of both the banks of Krishna river as 47.5 km 2 (left bank 21.9 km 2 and right bank 25.6 km 2 ) and total deposition of 42.2 km 2 (left  bank  24.2  km 2 and  right  bank  18  km 2 ).  The  study  of  Tapi  river  has  indicated  erosion  and

deposition of 17.79 km 2 and 54.71 km 2 respectively on the left bank and erosion and deposition of 45.96 km 2 and 11.63 km 2 respectively on right bank of Tapi River considering 2010 satellite imagery data vis a vis bank line for the year 1971-79.

(d) to (f) Dredging/desilting of rivers is not considered techno-economic feasible due to several reasons like non-sustainability, non-availability of vast land required for the disposal of dredged material, etc. National  Framework  for  Sediment  Management  (NFSM)  has  been  published  in  October,  2022  by Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation.  It  emphasises  on reducing  silt  generation  rather  than  silt  removal  and  promotes  technological  innovations  &  best practices.  The  framework  lays  emphasis  on  sediment  management  through  integrated  river  basin management plan giving due consideration to environment and ecology. Selective dredging in specific reaches  of  rivers  for  removal  of  drainage  congestion,  channel  capacity  improvement  and  navigation purpose are formulated and implemented by concerned States/agencies based upon local site conditions and backed by proper scientific model study.

Data  on  funds  allocated/spent  by  States  on  desilting  of  rivers  is  not  maintained  centrally.  The measures of desilting/dredging of rivers for flood management are formulated and implemented by the State  Governments  as  per  their  priority.  The  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  State Governments by providing technical advice and promotional financial assistance for flood management in critical areas.

Narmada Valley Development Authority, Government of Madhya Pradesh, has informed that they have not planned any desilting project presently.

Water Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra has informed that removal of silt from Savitri river and its tributaries were undertaken through District Disaster Management Authority in the year 2022 and 2023 and approximately 30.25 lakh cubic meter of silt was removed. Also, 20.38 lakh cum  of  slit  was  removed  from  Vashishti  river,  Tal.  Chiplun  by  Water  Resources  Department  of Maharashtra State with the help of local Government bodies. Due to these river de-silting works, the flood situation has been controlled to considerable extent.

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