Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil has emphasized the need for desilting India's 6,600 dams, where 15% capacity is lost to silt. Karnataka's Tungabhadra dam alone holds 31 TMC of silt, requiring over ₹15,500 crore for removal. Experts suggest alternative methods like creating silt mounds on banks for solar power or river linking to compensate for lost storage. The article also highlights the safety of Karnataka's dams post-Tungabhadra gate accident and the unique desilting design of KRS dam. https://www.prajavani.net/explainer/olanota/karnataka-reservoirs-choke-on-silt-as-drought-looms-experts-warn-4101486 #creator program