Excessive siltation leading to drastic decrease in the water holding capacity and even damage to concrete hydraulic structures is a common problem in reservoirs. Erosion of topsoil in the catchment area is influenced by natural and man-made factor that leads to increase sediment load. Bhakra Nangal dam, 255 m high, straight gravity dam (31.25N and 76.25E) is situated along the river Sutlej. The river Sutlej, originating from Mansarovar Lake on the Tibetan plateau at an elevation of 4572 m, flows in a southwest direction, cutting 915 m deep through the plateau and later entering India after traversing a distance of 320 km in Tibet. Gobind sagar reservoir covers 16867 ha at the full reservoir level (FRL) of 514 m above mean sea level (MSL) and 5063 ha at the minimum water level. The reservoir has been designed to hold 9621 million m3 of water, when full, and 2431 million m3 at dead storage level (DSL). However, due to silt accumulation, the capacity has declined to 7118 and 1973 million m3, respectively. The dam was designed for sediment load of 429 m3 / km yr but actual sediment load coming is 600 m3 / km yr.
            In the present study, an attempt has been made to find locations using remote sensing data in Sutlej river basin that are contributing more sediment to the river. Sediment yield in any basin depends upon parameters like soil moisture, extent of vegetation cover, surface temperature, soil type, snow thickness (if area is bounded by snow), precipitation rate, drainage density, lithology and slope of the area. For deducing these parameters optical as well as microwave remote sensing data have been used. Snow thickness has been calculated using SSM/I, vegetation cover change detection using NOAA AVHRR and IRS -1D LISS –III, soil moisture using MSMR data, The precipitation rate has been calculated using AVHRR NOAA data, drainage pattern from IRS-1D LISS-III data. The basin area has been divided into different small zones and all the above numerous parameters responsible have been calculated and the locations contributing higher sediment have been identified