Parliament Question: Desiltation of Reservoirs under BBMB

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1851 ANSWERED ON 30.07.2026 DESILTATION OF RESERVOIRS UNDER BBMB

1851. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of POWER

be pleased to state:

(a) whether Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has approved pilot project for desiltation of Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Dam) in Himachal Pradesh, if so, the details thereof including the estimated silt removal, project cost and expected benefits;

(b) whether project has been delayed following cancellation of tenders due to objections raised by State Government of Himachal Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether BBMB has assessed the impact of this delay caused by State Government on reservoir storage capacity, hydropower generation, irrigation, flood moderation, dam safety and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether BBMB proposes to reissue tenders and take steps to resolve issues with State Government, if so, the details thereof along with the expected timeline for commencement of works;

(e) the details of the time-bound sediment management policy for Bhakra & Pong dam reservoirs prepared by BBMB; and

(f) the details of coordination with Ministry of Jal Shakti as a part of whole of Government approach including any assistance taken by BBMB under DRIP, PMKSY for desiltation, reservoir management? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a): Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has initiated pilot de-siltation projects in the Gobind Sagar Reservoir of Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh at two locations, namely Luhnoo Ground, Bilaspur and Seer Khad. The projects envisage the removal of approximately 100 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) of sediment over a period of 10 years to improve reservoir operations. The projects are proposed to be implemented under a revenue-generation model through competitive bidding process, wherein the successful bidder is permitted to commercially utilise the excavated material after payment of the applicable royalty, taxes, duties, cess and other statutory levies to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.(b) to (d) : BBMB received a Show Cause Notice dated 03.06.2026 from the Government of Himachal Pradesh regarding the tenders floated for the de- siltation work. BBMB submitted its reply on 09.06.2026. However, the project has not been delayed on account of the objections raised by the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

The tenders invited during March/April 2026 were cancelled due to non- fulfillment of prescribed eligibility criteria by bidders. Subsequently, the tender for Seer Khad was suitably modified and re-issued. The bids were opened on 23.07.2026, and three bidders have submitted their proposals. The de-siltation work is expected to commence after award of the contract and obtaining the requisite statutory clearances from the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

(e) : Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has not prepared a separate sediment management policy for the Bhakra and Pong Dam reservoirs.

However, BBMB is undertaking de-siltation on a pilot basis in accordance with the National Framework for Sediment Management (NFSM) published by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

(f) : Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is participating in the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & III, a flagship programme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti with World Bank assistance. In this connection, The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been engaged to identify sediment-generation hotspots and undertake landslide susceptibility mapping in the catchment area of the Bhakra Dam up to Kol Dam.

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