Pipe bursts at Mandi project, generation hit

Tribune News Service

Mandi, April 18

The power generation at the 110-MW Shanan hydro project in Jogindernagar has come to a standstill as a water pipe burst at the British era plant late last night.

Though no loss of life was reported, the bursting of the pipe adjoining the penstock led to waterlogging inside the powerhouse, said sources. The penstock or sluice is a heavy steel pipe that carries water from reservoir to powerhouse for power generation.

Resident Engineer Daljeet Singh told The Tribune that water leakage from the pipe forced them to stop power generation. He said the fault was likely to be rectified in a day or two.

Jogindernagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Mehra said the administration was in touch with the plant authorities for early restoration of power generation.

Situated in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, Shanan plant is one of the oldest hydro projects in north India. The project was commissioned in 1932 and is currently under the control of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. The entire revenue goes to the Punjab Government.

The project is to be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Government in 2024 after the completion of a 99-year lease.

Before Partition, the project was fulfilling the power needs of entire undivided Punjab as well as Delhi. The project sources its water from Uhl river, which is tapped into a reservoir using a barrage at Barot. It is then diverted to the powerhouse using a tunnel and penstocks.

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