The historic Shanan Power House at Jogindernagar, once a symbol of engineering excellence, now lies in a state of alarming neglect. Located 40 km from Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh, the 110-megawatt facility has seen no significant investment from the Punjab Government for years. Crumbling infrastructure, abandoned quarters, rusting machinery, and roads riddled with foot-deep potholes all point to decades of administrative apathy.
A team from The Tribune recently visited the power house and found the half-kilometre approach road in an utterly dilapidated state—nearly impassable due to massive potholes. Local residents revealed that the Punjab Government, which has operated the plant for nearly a century, has not invested a single rupee in its upkeep in over two decades.
The powerhouse, built under a 99-year lease agreement signed in 1932 between the then King of Mandi, Joginder Sen, and British officer Colonel BC Batty, has officially passed its lease term. The matter of its ownership is now pending before the Supreme Court. Himachal Pradesh asserts rightful claim over the property, but Punjab has refused to relinquish control, despite the lease having expired last year.
Inside the power house complex, the condition is equally grim. Office buildings and staff residences are visibly deteriorating. Repairs to turbines, haulage-way trolley lines, and other essential equipment have been indefinitely suspended by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). A local foreman confirmed that only one phase of the ropeway trolley—between Shanan and ‘18 Number’—remains operational. The remaining phases have long been abandoned due to lack of maintenance.
The situation is no better at Barot, 40 kilometers upstream, where water from the Uhl river is diverted through tunnels for power generation. The Head Works Engineer’s bungalow and other staff quarters lie deserted. PSPCL infrastructure in Barot—roads, transmission lines, and buildings—is crumbling and dangerously close to collapse.
The historic winch stations at Headgear, Winch Camp, and Kathiyaru are also in a sorry state. Trolleys have rusted into junk, with weeds and debris taking over once-functional machinery. The ropeway trolley system, once the pride of the region and a marvel of British engineering, now tells a tale of ruin.
Adding to the controversy, Punjab’s claim of ownership is unique—never before has a state claimed permanent rights over a property physically located in another state. Officers of PSPCL stationed at Jogindernagar have remained silent, refusing to comment on the deteriorating condition of the infrastructure under their care.
With the Supreme Court yet to deliver a verdict, the fear among locals is growing that Punjab will ultimately hand over little more than the ruins of a once-glorious project to Himachal Pradesh. What was once a proud symbol of Indo-British engineering
collaboration now stands as a monument to governmental neglect.
The Tribune
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