Sedimentation-induced vulnerabilities of large reservoirs in India
The Research group of Dr. Somil Swarnkar [Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Bhopal] developed a comprehensive assessment of sedimentation-induced vulnerabilities in large reservoirs across India. The study, recently published in Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment (SERRA), analyzed long-term government records for more than 300 major reservoirs and found that, many reservoirs has been lost nearly or above 50% of their designed storage capacity due to sedimentation. The team applied a robust statistical framework to estimate gross storage losses and created a vulnerability index that classifies reservoirs across different physiographic regions of India. Findings reveal significant regional disparities, with some reservoirs facing extreme risks due to high sediment inflow from catchments. Such losses directly threaten the ability of dams to generate power, supply water for irrigation and domestic use, and provide flood control. The study underscores the urgent need for sediment management, improved monitoring, and region-specific strategies to sustain the long-term utility of these critical infrastructures. The research has drawn wide attention and has been featured by several media outlets, including The Times of India, The Economic Times, The New Indian Express and local Hindi newspapers, highlighting IISER Bhopal’s contributions to addressing pressing environmental and water security challenges. For more details, kindly visit https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00477-025-03095-w cbBZrKw
