Chandigarh, Sept. 29 -- The unprecedented rains in the catchment areas this monsoon season have brought to focus the excessive silt accumulated in the Bhakra Dam's reservoir-Gobind Sagar Dam-which has diminished its storage capacity by 25%.

Besides the slit, the shrinking of rivers downstream, change in filling season, and with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) being the target of a political slugfest between partner states-Punjab and Haryana, has brought the dam management under scrutiny. Experts are now trying to find better ways to handle project, which is a lifeline of the north Indian states - particularly Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Diminished reservoir capacity

At least 25% of the total capacity of 6 billion cubic metr...