Jammu, June 18, 2026 : Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the long-pending Shahpur Kandi Dam Project, which remained stalled for decades, has been revived under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is now nearing completion, paving the way for significant agricultural and economic development in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Describing the project as a symbol of “perseverance and development,” Singh said its completion will ensure better utilization of India’s share of river waters and bring substantial irrigation benefits to farmers in the region.
Highlighting the historical background of the project, the minister said that under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, India retained rights over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — with Ravi being the largest among them.
“Somewhere in the late 1970s, a national project was envisaged on the Ravi river so that India’s share of the water could be effectively utilised within the country instead of flowing into Pakistan,” Singh said in a post on X.
Project Delayed for Decades
The Union Minister noted that the foundation stone of the Shahpur Kandi Project was laid by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
However, following her assassination later that year, the project lost momentum and remained neglected for several decades due to what he described as the indifference of successive governments at the Centre and in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state.
“The project was pushed to the back burner and remained neglected for decades,” Singh said.
Revival Under Modi Government
According to the minister, the project received renewed attention after the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre in 2014.
He said coordinated efforts were initiated to revive the project by engaging with the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, resolving pending issues, preparing fresh documentation and accelerating implementation.
Singh recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally announced the revival of the project during a public rally in Jammu in February 2019.
“The project is now almost complete and its completion marks the fulfilment of a decades-old aspiration of the people of the region,” he said.
Major Irrigation and Development Benefits
The Shahpur Kandi Project is expected to provide extensive irrigation facilities to agricultural lands in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, significantly improving crop productivity and water management.
The minister said the project will not only strengthen the agricultural sector but also contribute to the broader socio-economic development of the region by enhancing rural livelihoods and supporting sustainable growth.
With completion now in sight, the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project is being viewed as a landmark infrastructure initiative that will help maximize the utilization of India’s water resources while benefiting thousands of farming families in the border areas.
