The Shanan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (SBSS) Jogindernagar, has appealed to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to constitute an all-party delegation to take up the case of Shanan Power House before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.They said it was necessary for protecting the historic hydro power generation unit from further devastation by the Punjab Government and PSEB.locals have alleged that the Punjab State Electricity Board, under whose jurisdiction the power plant is, has stopped its repairs and maintenance for the last five years with the mala-fide intention to totally damage it so that when its 99-year lease expires in 1924, it may be rendered non-functional.
locals said it would be paramount in the national interest that the project be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh to save it from ruin due to the attitude of the PSEB. This world famous unique monument of tourism-cum power generation Shanan complex is spread over 30-km lush green area on the bank of Uhl, a tributary of the Beas, deep in the mountains.Briefing mediapersons, president of the SBSS, Capt. JC Katoch and legal advisor Kishori lal lamented that four-stage truck rail-lines, pulleys and strong iron ropes have rusted and decayed. The wooden sleepers on the rail line need immediate replacement. They alleged that the HPSEB had deliberately stopped doing any maintenance or repairs. Earlier, the ropes and pulleys were daily oiled and greased.
Katoch said building of such a project would need millions of dollars, while its preservation and protection required only a few crores of rupees. He stressed that before the project is turned into shambles, it should be handed over to the HPSEB engineers for carrying on large scale repairs and maintenance to give it a fresh lease of life. “It is in the supreme interest of Himacahal Pradesh to save and protect it,” he added.Besides Shanan, two more power projects of 100 MW each are based on the tail water of Shanan Power House--Bassi and Uhl stage-3, which is also nearing completion.
Col BC Batty, who made the Shanan Hydroelectric Power House had also conceived to construct five more power houses utilising the tail water of Shanan, but he could not realise his dream due to his untimely demise.The project has fallen on bad days due to its transfer to PSEB which has little or no interest in maintaining it as it is not only out of the geographical boundaries of Punjab but also because its 99-year lease is expiring soon.