(a) whether Nagarjuna Sagar farmers are suffering as the silt accumulation for the past four decades is not
being removed due to the apathy of irrigation officials;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the corrective steps taken so far?
(a) whether Nagarjuna Sagar farmers are suffering as the silt accumulation for the past four decades is not
being removed due to the apathy of irrigation officials;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the corrective steps taken so far?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS ( SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) & (b) Irrigation being a State Subject, the irrigation projects are planned, executed, funded and maintained by
the State Governments themselves as per their priorities. Siltation in the reservoirs is a natural phenomena and it
results in gradual reduction of storage capacity The survey of Nagarjuna Sagar conducted in the year 2001 by Central
Water Commission (CWC) indicates a loss of gross storage of 2243 MCM, whereas the original storage capacity of reservoir
was 11553 MCM i.e. a loss of 19.41% of gross storage.
(c) The desiltation of reservoirs on large scale has not been considered techno-economically viable, as it is
associated with the problems of disposal of excavated earth and high cost of repeated desiltation. However, it is mentioned
that capacity survey report of Nagarjuna Sagar finalized by CWC was sent to the State Government/ Project authorities for
taking corrective measures to control siltation. These measures include Soil management, Agronomic Measures, Mechanical
Methods, and Decrease in the slope etc. for Catchment area treatment / Soil conservation in the catchment area of the
reservoir so as to reduce the rate of siltation.