Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD)

About Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD):

 

• The Ranjit Sagar Dam, also known as the Thein Dam, is a major water reservoir and hydroelectric power project located on the Ravi River in the state of Punjab.
• It is located about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the international border with Pakistan.
• The dam was constructed to harness the waters of the Ravi River and was completed in 2000.
• It is a concrete gravity dam with a height of about 162 meters (531 feet) and a length of approximately 518 meters (1,699 feet).
• The dam creates a vast reservoir known as the Ranjit Sagar Lake or Thein Lake. The reservoir has a storage capacity of around 0.97 billion cubic meters (789,000 acre-feet) and helps regulate water flow for various purposes.
• It has an installed capacity of 600 megawatts (MW) .

 

Key facts about Ravi River:

• Origin: It originates in the western Himalayas in the Multhan tehsil of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• It then flows through the Indian state of Punjab and enters Pakistan, where it eventually joins the Chenab River in the province of Punjab.
• Length: The total length of the Ravi River is approximately 720 kilometers (447 miles). Around 158 kilometers (98 miles) of the river's course lie in India, and the remaining 562 kilometers (349 miles) flow through Pakistan.
• Tributaries: The Ravi River is fed by several tributaries, including the Bhadal, the Ujh, the Tarnah, and the Basantar rivers in India, and the Aik, the Bara, and the Beas rivers in Pakistan.

 

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Q1) What is a gravity dam?

A gravity dam is a structure designed to withstand loads by its own weight and by its resistance to sliding and overturning on its foundation.

Source: In single-day record, Ranjit Sagar Dam generates 153.97 lakh units