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Bhakra choking on silt, may vanish in 30 years, says Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari

Bhakra reservoir in Himachal has lost 2,568 MCM of its original storage capacity due to sedimentation, even as the Bhakra Beas Management Board is yet to begin de-siltation at Bhakra and Pong, Centre tells Parliament.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Dec 5, 2025 06:00 PM IST

According to the National Register of Specified Dams, the three states together have 42 major dams. (Express file)

The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has told Parliament that the Bhakra reservoir in Himachal has lost 2,568 million cubic metres (MCM) of its original storage capacity due to sedimentation, even as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is yet to begin de-siltation work at its two major reservoirs, Bhakra and Pong.

The data was placed in the Lok Sabha in response to an unstarred question by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari on the status of de-silting in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

According to the National Register of Specified Dams, the three states together have 42 major dams. The annexure furnished by the Centre shows that Bhakra’s current gross storage capacity has dropped from 9,868 MCM to 7,300 MCM, while the Pong (Beas) reservoir has lost 1,190 MCM. Several medium and small reservoirs in Punjab’s Kandi region have also lost substantial capacity, with Perch and Mirzapur reservoirs retaining barely a fraction of their design storage.

Tewari later told The Indian Express that the figures reveal a crisis that demands urgent intervention. “I had asked about the decreasing capacity of dams in Punjab and Haryana due to a lack of proper de-silting. Look at the capacity lost by the Bhakra Dam and other such hydel ponds. If things go on like this, the Bhakra Nangal Dam will cease to exist in 25 to 30 years,” he noted.

Responding to Tewari, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said that BBMB had “not initiated de-siltation activities” in Bhakra and Pong so far, but a pilot project for de-siltation of Bhakra is on cards under Phase II and III of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).

The pilot is proposed on a revenue-generation model, so no separate fund requirement has been projected, he said. Punjab, meanwhile, has started de-silting 13 of its dams and has sought forest clearances for nine more.

The minister added that both Punjab and BBMB joined DRIP Phase II and III only in October 2025, under which Punjab is rehabilitating 12 dams with an allocation of Rs 442 crore, and BBMB is rehabilitating two dams with an allocation of Rs 230 crore. Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are not part of the scheme.

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The annexure shows stark reductions across the region. Ranjit Sagar Dam has lost 190 MCM, while Punjab’s Dholbaha, Mirzapur, Patiari, and Damsal reservoirs have lost between 3 and 6 MCM each. In Himachal Pradesh, the Chamera-I reservoir has lost nearly half its storage, dropping from 391 MCM to 195.1 MCM. Haryana’s Kaushalya Dam has lost 1.26 MCM.

Responsibility for dam de-silting lies with state govts: Centre

The Centre’s reply states that most of the responsibility for de-silting, maintenance, and rehabilitation lies with state governments and dam-owning agencies. Himachal Pradesh continues to rely on periodic flushing during monsoon months as per its operation manuals. The ministry emphasised that the Dam Safety Act, 2021, provides a comprehensive framework for surveillance, inspection, and maintenance of all major dams, and that the DRIP scheme aims to enhance the safety of 736 dams across 19 states over 10 years.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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