2 years after devastating floods, Larji power project now fully operational

The 126 MW Larji hydroelectric power project in Kullu district has been fully restored and is operational once again. It had suffered extensive damage due to the floods in Beas river on July 9-10, 2023. “The project’s swift revival, completed in less than two years, was made possible through the timely intervention and strong support of the state government,” said a government spokesperson.

Suffered extensive damage

1. Unit I of the Larji Power Project was restarted on January 15, 2024, and synchronised with the power grid on May 2, 2024.

2. Unit II was restarted on August 9, 2024, while Unit III was restored on January 17, 2025. “With all three turbines now operational, the project has fully resumed power generation,” said a spokesperson.

3. It had suffered extensive damage due to the floods in Beas river on July 9 and 10, 2023. The flood had caused heavy deposition of muck deep inside turbine units, rendering them non-operational.

The government allocated Rs 25 crore initially for restoration, followed by Rs 35 crore and subsequently Rs 185.87 crore for the complete rehabilitation of the project. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has commended the engineers and staff of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) for their tireless efforts and commitment to restore the project.

The spokesperson said that Unit I of the Larji Power Project was restarted on January 15, 2024, and synchronized with the power grid on May 2, 2024. Unit II was restarted on August 9, 2024 and Unit III was restored on January 17, 2025. “With all three turbines now operational, the project has fully resumed power generation,” said the spokesperson.

The flood had caused heavy deposition of muck deep inside the turbine units, rendering them inoperable for several months. Since mechanical removal was not feasible, the debri was painstakingly cleared by manual effort. “To safeguard the project from future natural calamities, several preventive measures have been implemented. Slope stabilisation work, including the installation of cable nets and rockfall barriers, has been completed near the surge shaft gates and is underway at the powerhouse entrance to mitigate risks from landslides and falling debris,” the spokesperson said.

Additionally, a hinged gate has been installed at the Main Access Tunnel (MAT) to prevent water ingress during high floods. A similar gate is being constructed at the Emergency Exit Tunnel (EET), with supporting civil works to ensure a secure, watertight system.

In 1953, a significant flood had occurred at the Larji Hydro Electric Project on river Beas. This flood, recorded on August 3, 1953, had a discharge of 3838.37 cumecs, whereas the flood occurred in the year 2023, with a discharge of 5600 cumecs, significantly exceeded the 1953 flood.