Information and Public Relations Department, Chandigarh, Punjab, December 31: In a bid to further improve the irrigation system and cleanpower generation in the state, Punjab Water Resources Department has completed60 per cent work of Shahpurkandi Main Dam despite the COVID situation duringthe year of 2020.
Punjab Water Resources Minister Mr. Sukhbinder SinghSarkaria said that the department resumed the construction work, which washalted due to unprecedented nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spreadof the pandemic, on the Shahpurkandi Dam on April 29, 2020 after some relaxationswere given in the lockdown. Now, the work of the project is going on in fullswing and almost 60% work of the Main Dam has been executed.
Expressing hope to start the filling of the reservoir ofShahpurkandi Dam Project by November 2022, he said that the project willhopefully start generating power in 2023. On completion, this project wouldgenerate 208MW power besides letting Ranjit Sagar Dam to run as a peakingstation. While creating tourism potential and improving the socio-economicconditions of the people in this border area, it would also provide intensiveirrigation facilities in 37000 Hectares in Punjab and J&K, he added.
Chief Engineer Shahpurkandi Dam project Mr. S.K. Saluja saidthat an amount of Rs.170crore has been spent during the current financial yearup to 31-12-2020 and expenditure of Rs.1233crore has been spent on the projectagainst approved project cost of Rs.2715crore. The work of Power House will bestarted in January 2021 and the work on J&K side would also be taken up inJanuary next year after the land acquisition process is completed by J&KGovt. This year, the Forest clearance for areas falling in Punjab and J&Khas been obtained from MoEF, New Delhi, he added.
Notably, the Shahpurkandi Dam Project is being constructedon river Ravi 11Km downstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam and 8Km upstream of MadhopurHeadworks in Pathankot District. It will reduce the outflow of the river waterto Pakistan.