The ambitious hydro electric project of Punjab, Ranjit Sagar Dam, achieved a rare mile stone by generating 2859 million units of power during last two years and earning record revenue of Rs.950 crore besides emerging as a major source of green power for the state.Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of Irrigation Department said that the Ranjit Sagar Dam was the biggest hydro electric project of the region that besides generating precious power for the state had been augmenting the irrigation network of the Granary of the country, Punjab. He said that this path breaking initiative of SAD-BJP Government had achieved a major mile stone by generating 19807 million units green power for the state earning a record revenue Rs.6,000 crore in last 14 years. He said that if we go by the project cost, the project has already earned 56 per cent of its project cost.
The spokesperson further said that this multipurpose project besides direct benefit to the state has been able to generate indirect revenue of Rs.550 crore (from 2012 to 2014) to the state by controlling floods in district Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar and increasing the power production of Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) project. He said that irrigation potential of UBDC system was icing on the cake.Describing this project as a game changer for border district and Majha region of Punjab, he added that it is singularly because of this project that farmers of this region were able to persify in the profitable area of Pisciculture and the economy of region has seen a major uplift. The project besides providing direct employment potential has also emerged as a major indirect employment generator for the state.