In a significant move to address the challenges of increasing silt in dam reservoirs, declining water storage capacity, and uncontrolled sand extraction, the Maharashtra state government on Thursday approved the removal of silt and silt-mixed sand from the reservoirs of six major projects on an experimental basis. The government also issued a revised policy to govern this process.
Policy Objectives and Benefits
Officials stated that this policy will enhance water storage in the projects and provide farmers with silt free of cost for agricultural use. They emphasized that the step is crucial for dam conservation. The projects selected for experimental silt removal include the Ujani, Girna, Gosikhurd, Mula, Jayakwadi, and Hatnur dams.
Implementation and Revenue Utilization
According to the new policy, the concerned Irrigation Development Corporations have been granted the authority to carry out the silt removal process. The revenue generated from this activity will be allocated for the rehabilitation and repair of the related irrigation projects, ensuring sustainable maintenance.
Free Silt for Farmers
A key highlight of the policy is that the silt removed from the dams will be provided to farmers completely free of cost for their fields. Farmers will only need to bear the transportation expenses, and no ownership fee will be charged. This initiative is expected to increase soil fertility and boost agricultural productivity.
Officials further explained that the duration of tenders for silt removal will be determined based on the volume of silt. For volumes up to 50 million cubic metres, the tender period will be five years; for 50 to 100 million cubic metres, it will be seven years; and for volumes exceeding 100 million cubic metres, the tender period will be ten years.
