To accomplish the task of Shahpurkandi Dam project in time, Punjab Water Resources Department has been working in a mission mode despite COVID restrictions and 45 per cent work of Main Dam has been completed so far.Giving this information, Punjab Water Resources Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria said that all development activities were halted due to unprecedented nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. "Water Resources Department resumed the construction work on the Shahpurkandi Dam project on April 29, 2020 with all COVID safety measures as sensitized under Mission Fateh. Now, the work of project is going on in full swing and 45% work of Main Dam has been executed", he informed.Expressing hope to start the filling of reservoir of Shahpurkandi Dam Project by mid of 2022, Mr. Sarkaria said that the project will hopefully start generating power by August, 2023. It will further improve irrigation system and clean power generation process in the state.It will act as a balancing reservoir to ensure the uniform water supply to canal system taking off from Madhopur Headworks, he said, adding that the project will create irrigation potential for 5000 hectares in Punjab and it will also provide intensive irrigation facilities in 1.18 lakh hectares under UBDC System. After completion, the project will generate 1042 million units of electricity per annum.Notably, Shahpurkandi Dam Project is being constructed on river Ravi 11Km downstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam and 8 Km upstream of Madhopur Headworks in Pathankot District. It will reduce the outflow of the river water to Pakistan, while benefitting both Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, once it is completed.With the generation of 206 MW of power at Shahpurkandi Power Houses, Chief Engineer Shahpurkandi Dam project Mr. S.K. Saluja said that it would ensure regular irrigation supply of water to downstream in UBDC tract. It would also create tourism potential and improve the socio-economic conditions of the people in this border area. He further informed that tenders for civil works of Power Houses will be invited soon. The electromechanical works of Power Houses have been awarded by PSPCL to BHEL.