RANJIT SAGAR DAM- The Powerhouse of Punjab
The Ranjit Sagar Dam is locally called the Thein Dam. This dam is part of a hydroelectric project which is commenced by the Government of Punjab. This dam is erected on the Ravi River which flows on the border of the Indian States of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. The Ranjit Sagar Dam is located in the Basohli tehsil of Kathua District in Jammu and Kashmir and the Pathankot city in the Pathankot District of Punjab. 60 percent of the manmade lake in this hydroelectric project is situated in Jammu and Kashmir. This project is the greatest hydroelectric dam in Punjab and the township which covers this dam is known as the Shah Pur Kandi Township. This project started in 1981 and was opened for usage and public viewing in March 2001. The dam provides a great scenic view to the tourist which makes it a tourist destination place for all.
The Ranjit Sagar Dam is used for both purposes like irrigation as well as power generation. The water of this dam is used to irrigate the crops and farmlands of all the states that border it and the nearby towns. This dam has a 600-megawatt capacity which makes it the most powerful electricity generator in the country. If this dam is used in its full capacity, it has the power to eliminate power cuts from the major parts of Punjab. However, to avert the wastage of five thousand to six thousand cusecs of river water, the authorities at the Ranjit Sagar Dam always make sure not to use all four of the turbines of the dam, each having a 150-megawatt capacity, thus all the turbines bring the total capacity of 600 megawatts.
The Ranjit Sagar Dam is also the highest earth-fill dam in India. Embankment dams of earth-fill dams which are also known as earth dams are erected by compressing several layers of earth and using these materials to set up a core by placing porous materials on the upstream and downstream sides to allow water to trickle through.
This dam also has the greatest diameter penstock pipes in the country. A penstock pipe is a gate that manages water flow from the Ravi River and provides the water to the hydro turbines and drainage system of the dam.
LOCATION- Basohli and Pathankot
COUNTRY- India
STATUS- Operational
ERECTION BEGAN- 1981
OPENING DATE- 2001
POSSESSOR- Water Resources Department, Government of Punjab, India
TYPE OF DAM- Earth-fill, Embankment
CONFISCATES- Ravi River
LENGTH- 617 m (2024 ft)
HEIGHT- 160 m (525 ft)
ELEVATION AT CREST- 540 m (1772 ft)
WIDTH (BASE) - 669.2 m (2196 ft)
WIDTH (CREST) – 14 m (46 ft)
VOLUME OF DAM- 21,920,000 cubic meters
SPILLWAY CAPACITY- 24,637 cu m/s
SPILLWAY TYPE- Controlled chute
TOTAL CAPACITY- 3,280,000,000 cubic meters
NORMAL ELEVATION- 527.9 m
ACTIVE CAPACITY- 2,344,000,000 cubic meter
COMMISSION DATE- 2000
TURBINES- 4 X 150 MW Francis-type
HYDRAULIC HEAD- 121.9 m (max)
INSTALLED CAPACITY- 600 MW
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