Pathankot, Nov 5 (NationPress) On the auspicious day of the Parkash Purab of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday unveiled a pivotal initiative worth Rs 3,394.49 crore by officially inaugurating the Shahpur Kandi Project, which is set to greatly enhance the state's electricity generation and irrigation capabilities.

Wishing everyone a joyous Parkash Purab while dedicating this landmark project to the populace, the Chief Minister remarked that today “is a momentous day for the nation, particularly for Punjab.”

He expressed sincere appreciation on behalf of all Punjabis to the engineers, workers, and laborers who dedicated their efforts tirelessly to bring this vision to fruition.

Chief Minister Mann stated that this dam project will serve as a boon for farmers, industrialists, traders, and the general public.

As Punjab is primarily an agrarian state, this project will yield significant benefits by not only boosting power output but also offering extensive irrigation services.

Furthermore, he noted that the initiative would generate substantial employment opportunities for youth. Mann envisioned the Shahpur Kandi Dam as the lifeline of Punjab, especially for the Majha region.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this dam would light up numerous homes and enhance countless lives.

Providing detailed insights about the project, he mentioned that the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project is being developed at a cost of Rs 3,394.49 crore, with Punjab contributing Rs 2,694.02 crore (approximately 80%) and the remaining Rs 700.45 crore (20%) funded by the Government of India.

A total of 3,171.72 acres have been acquired for the project, with 1,643.77 acres in Punjab and 1,527.95 acres in Jammu and Kashmir.

Regarding irrigation benefits, the Chief Minister highlighted that the project will provide irrigation for 5,000 hectares (12,500 acres) of agricultural land in Punjab, facilitating water supply to farmlands in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and other districts in the Majha region.

He added that it would guarantee a consistent irrigation supply to 1.18 lakh hectares under the Upper Bari Doab Canal system.

Prior to the construction of the Shahpur Kandi Dam, the Ranjit Sagar Dam powerhouse could not operate at its full capacity of 600 MW during peak hours due to the lack of a downstream reservoir, resulting in excess water flowing unused into Pakistan.

However, with the establishment of the Shahpur Kandi Dam, water released from the Ranjit Sagar Dam will be stored in the new reservoir, facilitating optimal power generation during high-demand periods and ensuring a reliable water supply for irrigation.

The Shahpur Kandi Dam stands at 55.5 meters high and features a 7.7 km-long hydel channel.

Chief Minister Mann stated that two powerhouses with a combined capacity of 206 MW are being constructed, with nearly 75% of the work completed.