SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has accelerated the technical process to execute a proposed 1,500 MW hydro power project in the Jyuri area of Chamba district, which will utilize water from the Bhaga river in Lahaul-Spiti.
Under the project plan, water from the Chandrabhaga river will be channeled through a nearly 10-kilometer-long tunnel to Jyuri in the Charda panchayat. A 1,500 MW capacity powerhouse will be established at this site. After generating electricity, the water will be released back into the Chandrabhaga river in the Tindi area.
While the final design of the project is to be prepared under the Central Water Commission (CWC) scheme, the preliminary survey and technical processes have already commenced.
A project management team recently collected soil samples from various locations in the Jyuri area. These samples have been dispatched to a state-of-the-art laboratory in Noida for quality and geological testing. The final blueprint for the powerhouse and other infrastructure will be drafted based on the test reports.
The construction of this hydro power project is expected to boost clean energy production, create local employment opportunities, and stimulate economic development in the region.
According to experts, modern technology will be used to construct the tunnel and the powerhouse to ensure minimal environmental impact and maintain the balance of the river’s natural flow. Once the project materializes, it will ensure better utilization of Lahaul-Spiti’s water resources and significantly enhance the state’s power generation capacity.
“Soil samples for the tunnel construction at Charda’s Jyuri under the CWC scheme have been collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. Water from Bhaga will be brought here from Tindi to generate electricity,” said Churah SDM Rajesh Jaryal.
