Panel evaluates Renuka Ji dam project in Sirmaur dist
The Local Funds Accounts Committee of Himachal Pradesh, led by chairman, Sanjay Ratna and joined by members Satpal Satti, Keval Singh Pathania and Vivek Sharma conducted an in-depth inspection of the Renuka Ji Dam Project on the Giri river in Sirmaur district. The two-day tour included Nahan MLA Ajay Solanki and was part of efforts to evaluate the progress and address issues tied to this key project, designated as a National Project due to its potential to serve Himachal Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The inspection included visits to prominent religious sites, including Renuka Ji and Parshuram temples, where the committee participated in local rituals and acknowledged the cultural significance of Renuka Lake. The committee then focused on the Renuka Ji Dam, a significant storage project with a planned height of 148 metres and a 24-kilometre-long reservoir capacity of around 498 million cubic meters.
A critical source of drinking water, the dam will supply about 40 per cent of Delhi’s water needs and produce approximately 200 million units of electricity annually, with 40 MW capacity allocated to Himachal Pradesh, directly benefiting the local energy supply.
The dam is expected to create substantial socio-economic opportunities, generate over 13 million labour days and generate local employment during and after construction. Additionally, a Rs 160 crore Catchment Area Treatment Plan aims to mitigate environmental impacts and support ecosystem conservation.
The project is expected to attract tourism around Renuka Lake through eco-friendly infrastructure which officials discussed during the committee’s visit.
The tour concluded with a meeting attended by Additional Superintendent of Police Yogesh Rolta and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajeev Sankhyan, emphasising the logistical, security, and administrative measures essential for the dam’s timely completion.
