Rising Silt in Sutlej Puts Sunni Residents on Edge: Shimla Administration Steps In
The people of Sunni in Shimla district are living with growing anxiety as the Sutlej River swells with rising water levels and alarming silt deposits. Concerned about the safety of families and homes, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap convened a special meeting this week with officials from NTPC’s Kol Dam and the Luhri Hydro Project to chart out urgent protective measures.
Starting December 15, Kol Dam authorities will launch a sonar-based survey to map the silt buildup in the river stretch near Sunni. The high-tech study, expected to take 15–20 days, will help the administration design a long-term plan to shield vulnerable areas from flooding.
Kashyap, who personally inspected flood-hit spots like the ITI campus, rest house, cowshed, and residential colonies earlier this year, stressed that protecting lives and property is the administration’s top priority. “No person’s life or property should be harmed. We will take all necessary steps to ensure safety,” he assured.
The urgency stems from a decade-long IIT Roorkee study that paints a worrying picture. While silt levels remained steady until 2021, the past two years have seen a dramatic surge. In Tattapani, silt spread jumped from 7 hectares in 2022 to 27 hectares in 2023. Sunni witnessed an even sharper rise—from just 0.5 hectares in 2022 to 10 hectares in 2023.
Officials warn that unchecked silt accumulation is making the region more prone to floods. The upcoming sonar survey will be crucial in shaping strategies for mitigation, monitoring, and sustainable river management—steps that residents hope will bring them some much-needed relief.
