In a bid to further improve irrigation and clean power generation potentials of the state, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh on Wednesday directed the Shahpurkandi Dam Project Authority to make all out efforts for the commissioning of the project as per the scheduled deadline of May, 2022. The project is being constructed on river Ravi, which will reduce the outflow of the river water to Pakistan, while benefitting both Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir on its completion. Chairing 11th meeting of Standing Committee of Shahpurkandi Dam Construction Board here, the Chief Secretary said that this was a prestigious project of the state and with its commissioning the Nation would be able to utilize full potential of river Ravi as per Indus Water treaty. An official spokesperson said that the project comprises of construction of 55.50 meter high dam, 7.7 KM long Hydel channel and two power houses with installed capacity of 206 MW.
The project will also create irrigation potential for 5000 hectares in Punjab and 32173 hectares in J&K. It will provide intensive irrigation facilities in 1.18 lakh hectares under UBDC System. The Shahpurkandi Dam would also act as a balancing reservoir for Ranjit Sagar Dam enabling it to run as peaking power station and utilize its full installed capacity during monsoon period. The project when completed will generate 1042 Million Units of electricity per annum. Additional Chief Secretary Industries & Commerce Ms. Vini Mahajan has participated in the meeting through video conference. Additional Chief Secretary Power Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Chairman-cum-Managing Director PSPCL Mr. A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary Water Resources Mr. Sarvjit Singh, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. KAP Sinha, Technical Advisor to Govt. of Punjab Mr. Robin Sandhu, Chief Engineer Shahpurkandi Dam Project Mr. S. K. Saluja, Chief Engineer Shahpurkandi Dam Design I. D. Goyal, Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer Shahpurkandi Dam Project Mr. Surinder Mohan were present in the meeting.