Maharashtra Minister Vikhe Patil Calls for Overhaul of Maharashtra’s Dam Desilting Policy; Six Projects Chosen for Pilot

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has called for a comprehensive revision of the state’s dam desilting policy, proposing a comparative study of desilting frameworks from other states to enhance Maharashtra’s current approach.

In a high-level review meeting held on Wednesday, Vikhe Patil emphasized the urgent need to modernize the state’s silt removal policy. According to a statement from his office, the minister urged officials to study best practices across India and submit a report on policy recommendations within a week.

“Maharashtra’s existing silt removal policy should be updated by incorporating elements from similar documents of other states after an in-depth analysis,” the minister said, as quoted in the official release.

The meeting focused on assessing the current status of desilting efforts and the technologies available for separating silt from sand and soil — a crucial aspect for improving reservoir efficiency.

Maharashtra currently manages nearly 150 major reservoirs used for flood control, irrigation, drinking water supply, and power generation. However, accumulated silt in these dams has significantly reduced their water-holding capacity, necessitating a scientific and scalable desilting strategy.

Among those present at the meeting were Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister and CEO of MITRA, along with senior officials from the Water Resources Department.

To spearhead this initiative, the state has identified six dams for pilot desilting projects:

  • Ujani (Solapur)
  • Girna (Nashik)
  • Gosikhurd (Bhandara)
  • Jayakwadi (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
  • Mula (Ahilyanagar)
  • Hatnur (Jalgaon)

“These pilot projects will help us evaluate technical and logistical challenges, and the experience will guide a broader rollout across the state,” the release stated.

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