Siltation in Nizamsagar reservoir: environmental management issues

The Nizamsagar is one of the most heavily silted Indian reservoirs, with a 60 per cent reduction in its storage capacity in just 40 years. At the present rate of siltation, the entire original storage capacity will have silted up in 70 years. The problem of siltation has a multitude of economic and environmental implications. The environmental management issues involved in the siltation of the Nizamsagar are identified and analysed in detail in this paper. Regular monitoring of siltation and the taking of timely corrective action would have reduced the extent of damage by siltation.