In a run-of-the-river scheme, the barrage serves to divert water into the East Yamuna Canal for hydroelectric power production at the Dhakrani and Dhalipur Power Plants.

The foundation stone for the dam was laid on 23 May 1949 by India's Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

[2] The entrance to the canal is directly behind the dam on its left bank.

This power plant contains three 17 MW Francis turbine-generators and has a design head of 30.48 m (100 ft).

Water discharged from the Dhalipur Power Plant continues along the canal until it reaches the reservoir of the Asan Barrage.