Srinagar, May 23: The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that large-scale de-silting of rivers is not an economically viable long-term solution for flood control and should only be undertaken after detailed scientific, environmental and techno-economic studies.
The observations were made in a detailed reply filed by the Ministry in OA No. 617 of 2025, Raja Muzaffar Bhat vs UT of J&K and Others, dealing with sediment management, dredging and de-silting practices in rivers, reservoirs and lakes. The official reply has been shared with Ziraat Times.
The Ministry said sediment management must form part of an integrated river basin management strategy and stressed that regular sediment budgeting and scientific monitoring are essential, particularly in heavily silted river systems.
Referring to the findings of the B.K. Mittal Committee constituted by the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry stated that “de-silting of rivers for flood control is not an economically viable solution” and that dredging in major rivers is generally inadequate for reducing floods.
According to the Ministry, de-silting may marginally reduce flood magnitude only for a short duration and should be limited to exceptional cases such as tidal rivers, river mouths, narrow constrictions and navigation corridors after detailed examination and techno-economic justification.
The Ministry warned that unsystematic dredging and mining could destabilise riverbanks, widen channels, lower groundwater tables and damage bridges, embankments and other structures.
It further noted that sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs is aggravated by human interventions such as floodplain encroachments, construction in riverbeds, roads and embankments, deforestation, urbanisation and unregulated mining activities.
The Ministry stated that natural floodplains and lakes play a crucial role in moderating floods and maintaining river ecology. It cautioned against reclamation of lakes and floodplains, saying adjoining lakes and depressions should instead be de-silted scientifically to improve storage capacity.
In its recommendations, the Ministry emphasised watershed treatment, afforestation, check dams, erosion control, floodplain management and regulated sand mining as more sustainable approaches to sediment control.
The Ministry also underlined that lakes and water bodies are critical ecological systems supporting fisheries, biodiversity and groundwater recharge. It said restoration and sediment management of lakes are necessary for maintaining ecological balance and water security.
On disposal of dredged material, the Ministry directed that removed silt and sediment should not be dumped into wetlands or water bodies and must be utilised scientifically in construction, embankments, agriculture or land reclamation works.
The Ministry further clarified that while routine maintenance dredging for disaster management is exempt from environmental clearance requirements, large-scale commercial or restoration-oriented de-silting projects require detailed feasibility reports, environmental safeguards, sediment disposal plans and approvals from competent authorities.
The document also called for integrated bathymetric surveys, GIS-based sediment modelling, satellite monitoring and video documentation of dredging operations to improve long-term sediment management planning across India’s rivers, reservoirs and lakes.
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