Maharashtra to pilot desilting at 7 irrigation projects before Mumbai reservoir cleanup
The Maharashtra government has approved a pilot scheme to remove silt and silt-mixed sand from seven major irrigation projects—Ujani, Girna, Gosikhurd, Mula, Jayakwadi, Hatnur and Koyna. The scheme will be implemented through respective Irrigation Development Corporations, with findings to guide desilting of reservoirs supplying drinking water to Mumbai.
The move follows a demand by Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde for regular desilting of Mumbai's reservoirs every five to 10 years, preferably before monsoon. Silt accumulation from catchments has reduced storage capacity and affected summer water supply.
Surveys by the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute recorded storage-capacity declines ranging from 1.7 per cent to 16.4 per cent across five of Mumbai's key reservoirs, with annual declines estimated between 0.1 and 0.2 per cent.
