Silt removal work begins at Thirot power house in Lahaul-Spiti

In a significant development for the power infrastructure of Lahaul-Spiti, silt removal work at the Thirot Power House officially began yesterday after a gap of five years. The move is expected to address long-standing issues that have hampered electricity generation in the region and will help prevent power shortage in future.

Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana has confirmed the initiation of the long-awaited project, highlighting the importance of the work for the valley’s power needs. She said accumulation of silt had adversely affected the efficiency of the power house, which is one of the key energy sources for the remote tribal district of Himachal Pradesh.

Expressing her thanks to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, MLA Rana acknowledged the government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure in tribal and far-flung regions. “This critical maintenance work had been pending for five years due to budgetary constraints. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Chief Minister for making budgetary provisions and ensuring that the much-needed desilting work is taken up without further delay,” she stated.

The 4.5 MW Thirot Power House, a hydroelectric facility, has suffered from reduced capacity due to excessive silt deposition, especially during monsoon seasons when sediment load in the rivers increases significantly. The start of the desilting operations is expected to restore the plant’s efficiency and improve the reliability of power supply to the valley, particularly during the winter months when demand increases sharply.

Anuradha Rana further added that the concerned department has been directed to complete the work within the stipulated time frame while maintaining high standards of quality and safety. She emphasised that the project is not only about restoring the power house but also about ensuring sustainable power supply to the region in the long term.

The residents of Lahaul-Spiti have welcomed the initiative and are hopeful that with the completion of this project, they will experience fewer power disruptions, particularly during critical periods of extreme weather.

The restoration of the Thirot Power House is expected to have a direct and positive impact on both domestic consumers and local businesses, who rely heavily on stable electricity supply in this high-altitude region.