Rapid siltation

in order to overcome the problem of siltation and decreasing water storage capacity, the Central Water Commission (cwc) is examining a proposal to increase the height of the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka. The proposal is on for quite some time and assumes greater significance as the farmers of Kurnool, Anantapur and Cuddapah districts in Andhra Pradesh who depend upon the low-level and the high-level canals of the dam are concerned about the unavoidable cut in their share of water due to siltation. According to R V Godbole, chairperson of the project's board, "Siltation of dams is the most grevious problem faced by irrigation engineers in the country these days. Desiltation or dredging of dams has not been attempted in our country so far."