Mohra Hydroelectric Power project



 Constructed quite a while back by the Dogra ruler, Pratap Singh, in the unified J&K, the Mohra hydroelectric undertaking in north Kashmir's Baramulla region close to the Line of Control (LOC) is set to be showcased as a masterpiece of architecture of yesteryears. Mohra made Srinagar the second city in the Indian sub-continent to be electrified in that era.

Following the mediation (intervention) of LG Manoj Sinha, the organization has begun making strides towards the recovery of the project.

The project, a run-off waterway plot was built in 1905 on stream Jhelum at Boniyar, 35 km downstream of Baramulla, with an installed capacity of 4 MW, later improved to 9 MW. It was developed against the most difficult geology by building a 11 km long wooden flume (counterfeit channel) to convey water to run the turbines and produce power.

The power project has been declared a heritage but it is lying in neglect.

However recently the organization stepped up and resuscitate the legacy project. Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Vivek Bhardawaj, while recently chairing the meeting of the Board of Directors of Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited sanctioned Rs.133.50 crore for the project.

The flume has vanished in many parts and its leftovers are apparent on the side of the road while driving towards Uri from Baramulla. The marvelous structure has been plundered by miscreants who have stolen the high-quality wood that was used to build the flume.

English architects planned the 4000 kilowatts project on the left bank of Jhelum. The project was of its own kind as water of Jhelum was diverted about 11 kms higher up into a canal running mostly in the wooden flume of 8 square feet that not only fed the turbines but also supplied water to farmers for irrigation

Electric supply from Mohra reshaped the way of life in Kashmir and was additionally utilized for warming the water bowls in the silk processing plant and running the reeling machines. The venture was harmed by Pakistani pillagers in October 1947 after which it was made functional in 1955 however was again severely harmed in the surges of July 1959.

According to the record, five streams were negotiated by passing them clean over the flume, and at the other six water courses, the flume had to be built on strong iron bridges. As a masterpiece of architecture, six tunnels were also built through rocky terrain for the flume to cross. Only about 3 km of the nearly 11 km length of the flume was built of masonry and the remaining portion was crafted with deodar timber.

LG Manoj Sinha is supposed to be profoundly keen on the venture and is holding back nothing. A legacy traditionalist is being counseled on conceivable recovery choices, an official said. Power Secretary Niteshwar Kumar has focused on finishing the works inside the time span.

The project, historians suggest, was the second powerhouse in the Indian subcontinent. When the Maharaja of Mysore set up the Kaveri Power scheme in 1902 at Shivasamudram to electrify Kolar Gold Fields and later Mysore and Bangalore, the Kashmir monarch Pratap Singh hired the same legendry engineer Major Dlain de Latbiniere to set up this project in Uri. The Labour force came from Ladakh, Baltistan, and Afghanistan, and the skilled ones from Punjab.