Telangana Ministers Discuss Desilting and Sedimentation Management in Hyderabad
The second Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting on Desilting and Sedimentation management of Irrigation Projects was held at the Telangana Secretariat on Monday. Telangana Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, Tummala Nageswara Rao, and other officials participated in the meeting.
The committee discussed various issues including the desiltation process, methodologies used by other states, and the quantification of silt using satellite images and Bathymetric surveys. They also talked about the segregation of sand and silt, the tendering process, and the ‘Revenue Generation Model’ to be adopted.
Ensuring safety and environmental compliance during the disposal of silt and sand was another key topic. The responsibilities of the I&CAD Department and contractors were also outlined. The committee highlighted the benefits of desiltation, such as increasing reservoir capacity and generating revenue for the government without incurring additional costs.
Two new committees will be formed: a High Power Committee with external experts and a technical committee with I&CAD Department experts. These committees will focus on hydrology, dam safety, and designs. The officials were directed to create a workable proposal to ensure wider participation and simultaneous work on multiple projects. A robust monitoring system will be developed, and the desiltation process will be prioritized.
The committee also noted the Supreme Court’s stay order on NGT’s sand extraction orders in the Manair River, stating that environmental clearance is not an issue for desiltation. They suggested that revenue from desiltation could be used for dam and reservoir maintenance.
Doubts Revealed
Telangana -: Telangana is a state in southern India. Its capital city is Hyderabad.
Desilting -: Desilting means removing silt, which is a type of fine sand or clay, from the bottom of rivers, lakes, or dams to keep them clean and functional.
Sedimentation -: Sedimentation is the process where particles like sand, clay, and silt settle at the bottom of a water body, which can cause blockages.
Irrigation Projects -: Irrigation projects are systems designed to supply water to land or crops to help them grow, especially in areas where there is not enough rainfall.
Hyderabad -: Hyderabad is the capital city of Telangana, known for its rich history, culture, and technology industry.
Cabinet Sub-Committee -: A Cabinet Sub-Committee is a smaller group of ministers from the government who meet to discuss specific issues and make recommendations.
Uttam Kumar Reddy -: Uttam Kumar Reddy is a politician and a minister in the Telangana government.
Jupally Krishna Rao -: Jupally Krishna Rao is another politician and minister in the Telangana government.
Tummala Nageswara Rao -: Tummala Nageswara Rao is also a politician and minister in the Telangana government.
Environmental compliance -: Environmental compliance means following rules and regulations to protect the environment while doing activities like desilting.
Revenue -: Revenue is the money earned from activities, in this case, from desilting, which can be used for other purposes like maintaining dams.
