Huge money behind Telangana govt’s desiltation programme push; Rs.10,000 cr revenue in sight

The reason behind the State's push to embark on the tough exercise is the huge potential in terms of revenue from sand to be extracted from both the projects

Hyderabad: Huge revenue is said to be the main attraction behind the State’s proposed desiltation programme, which is otherwise facing challenges including a looming monsoon, tight timelines and complex environmental requirements. The State government has already finalized agencies for taking up the exercise on a pilot basis in the Lower Manair, Mid Manair and Kaddam projects. The overall plan aims to dredge approximately 1,696.78 lakh tonnes of silt across all three reservoirs over the 20-year period, with more than Rs.10,000 crore expected to be raked in.

The reason behind the State’s push to embark on the tough exercise is the huge potential in terms of revenue from sand to be extracted from the projects. From the Kaddam project, approximately 2.8 million cubic metres of material will be removed. Some 2.2 million cubic metres of silt is to be lifted from the Lower Manair project. Mid Manair, where the storage capacity is to be reclaimed by some seven TMCs, may yield about 41.85 million cubic meters. The overall cost involved would be Rs.1440 crore, with the revenue generated, according to officials, to be much higher.

---

The implementation agencies are yet ready to take up the work immediately. They are still in the process of making their arrangements. The work may take off in time only with regard to Lower Manair dam. The government is ready with 50 acres to be handed over to the agency for silt dumping. In the other two projects, the process is still on for acquiring land which is not available.

However, only 20 percent to 30 percent of the total yield could be coarse enough for use as sand, while the rest will be fine silt or clay, not usable directly for construction. Field experiences from reservoirs like Nagarjuna Sagar and Tungabhadra suggest that about 25 percent of total desilted material could be construction-grade sand. It is estimated that some 1.2 to 1.3 million cubic metres of sand could be potentially recovered from the Kaddam and Lower Manair projects.

Usually, one cubic metre of sand weighs around 1.5 to 1.7 metric tonnes, depending on moisture and compaction. Taking an average of 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre, an estimated 1.96 million to 2 million metric tonnes of sand yield is expected in Lower Manair and Kaddam projects. The cost of sand in the open market in Telangana varies based on the type and source. Coarse sand from government stockyards will cost around Rs.1,600 per metric tonne, while fine sand is priced at Rs.1,800 per metric tonne.

Launch of the desilting operations that are being taken up with the hope of concluding its first spell by July, might very well stretch into the early months of 2026. The agencies were already finalized to undertake the work. Key contractual obligations include the use of Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)-enabled hydrographic equipment, ensuring minimal disturbance to aquatic life. Real-time monitoring through a central dashboard is a prerequisite. Moreover, a portion of the excavated silt will be made available free of cost to local farmers, promoting its use as a natural soil enricher.

– Telangana’s desilting programme aims to remove 4.9 to 5 million cubic metres of silt

– Only 20 to 30 percent of the desilted material is expected to be construction-grade

– Yield of nearly 2 million metric tonnes of sand to generating over Rs.3000 crore

– Logistical and environmental challenges may push completion into early 2026

Focus on desiltation of MI tanks would yield better results

Given the complexities and challenges involved in sediment management in respect of the major irrigation projects are involved, the proposed desiltation programme would be an arduous task with no immediate benefits, felt irrigation experts. The proposed pilot initiatives for projects like Kaddam and Lower Manair are yet to commence, despite being identified as crucial to optimizing storage capacities affected by decades of sedimentation.Experts emphasize that sedimentation has consumed 25-30 percent of storage in some reservoirs, underscoring the need for action.

However, the prohibitive costs and intricate procedural requirements have rendered large-scale desilting efforts a persistent topic of discussion rather than implementation. While surveys of sedimentation levels have been completed for selective projects, comprehensive studies remain pending across the State’s 159 projects with a gross storage capacity of 929 TMC.

The government is considering a revenue-generation model based on Cabinet Sub-Committee recommendations, aimed at financial optimization of sediment management activities. Yet, results are expected to take time, as desilting involves careful planning, resource allocation, and precise execution to prevent infrastructure damage.In contrast, the success of Mission Kakatiya demonstrates the immense potential of desilting minor irrigation tanks. Over 27,713 tanks were restored, enhancing groundwater recharge and stabilizing irrigation for 20 lakh acres of agricultural land. The initiative improved crop yields, with cotton, maize, and paddy showing significant increases, while also boosting fishermen’s income by 30-35 percent.

Senior BRS leader and former Irrigation Minister in the erstwhile AP, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, has advocated for prioritizing minor irrigation sector rejuvenation, noting that Mission Kakatiya not only increased agricultural productivity but also added over 10 lakh pump sets to irrigation infrastructure, marking a transformative era for Telangana’s farmers. He said minor irrigation tanks in the State needed continued attention and the major irrigation projects could not be the priority at the cost of the minor irrigation sources.