Government has miserably failed to make one of the oldest hydro-electric plants in South Asia, Mohra power house in Uri area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district operational. The power plant is lying defunct since 1992 while authorities claim that restoration process is on cards and it will take at least 4 years to make it fully functional.Reliable sources informed news agency CNS that oldest machinery and tools present in the 9 MW Mohra Power House are being stolen and shifted to Ganderbal Power House. An official wishing anonymity said that valuable parts of machinery are being lifted and shifted to Ganderbal power house. Pertinently, this year in June, the state government approved the proposal of the Power Development Department (PDD) to implement the 93-MW New Ganderbal hydropower project on the banks of the Sindh in central Kashmir after nearly two decades of delay. “Government is robbing Peter to pay Paul. On the one hand Government shows its seriousness to make Mohra Power House operational, while on the other it is depriving this Power House from precious machinery tools,” the official added. Former Minister Taj Mohiuddin said that restoration of Mohra Power House is almost impossible as it has completely destroyed by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) of India. “NHPC after using water of Mohra Power House for its own project almost have choked the water canal,” he said.
Another official revealed that government had entered into an agreement with NHPC and under that agreement NHPC was bound to help in restoration work of Mohra Power House after using its waters, but those agreement papers went mysteriously missing. Jammu Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Head, Dr Shah Faisal said that they have already got an NOC from NHPC for using their water. “Mohra Power House will be restored and it will take at least four years,” he said.Pertinently, Mohra power house was developed by JKSPDC in early 1905 and until 1992 it was operational. However, according to official sources, it became defunct following generational loss and subsequent increase in repairing costs in the aftermath of 1992 floods. The heritage project was constructed by European engineers in 1902-03 on the left bank of the river Jehlum on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road at Boniyar in Uri.Since 1992 no attention was paid towards the Mohra power house and finally in year 2015, JKSPDC hired Delhi-based consultant firm, Synergic India Limited, for upgradation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) to revive this prestigious project in view of its heritage value.