Under the Beas Project, the dam was completed in 1977 and its primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation.

Part of a run-of-the-river power scheme, it diverts the waters of the Beas to the southwest through a 38 km (24 mi) long system of tunnels and channels.

Part of a run-of-the-river power scheme, it diverts the waters of the Beas to the southwest through a 38 km (24 mi) long system of tunnels and channels.

From the balancing reservoir, water is again sent south through the 8.53 m dia, 12.38 km (8 mi) long Sundar Nagar Slapper tunnel.

The Dehar Power Plant is situated on the banks of the Satluj at the Slapper bridge.

[5][6] It is managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB),[7] which is engaged in regulation of the supply of water and power from Bhakra Nangal Dam and Beas Projects to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

Diverted waters from Beas also increased the generation capacity of the Bhakra Dam downstream of Dehar Power Plant.

[3] The Pandoh dam diverts 256 cumecs (9000 cusecs) of Beas to river Satluj.