1902-03 was the time of British rule over India. J&K State, though ruled by the Dogra rulers was in fact a vassal state of the British Indian Empire. British civilian and military officers generally would come to spend summer months in Kashmir as visitors but coming from the ruling class as they did, the State Government provided hem more than necessary facilities. Actually, the Protocol Department at that point of time actually hosted the British officials of high and low rank. It were these visiting British dignitaries who conceived the idea of building a power house in Kashmir so that they would enjoy their stay as a matter of pleasure. Thus a site on the left bank of River Jhelum at a place called Bonyar in district Baramulla and a road to Uri was selected and British engineers prepared the blue print for this first hydel power production plant in Kashmir valley. The plant became functional in 1905 and it produced only 9 MW of electric power with which the towns of Baramulla, Sopore and Srinagar were illuminated. Valley villages were not fortunate enough to reap this benefit because there was not sufficient.
This was the only hydropower generating station in the Valley till 1947. On 26 October 1947, when Pakistan sponsored tribesmen invaded Kashmir, that night they attacked and destroyed the Mahora power house and with that entire Kashmir valley fell into darkness. It was not before a year that power supply from Mahora power house was restored. Thereafter, other small or big power generating hydropower plants at various places in the State gradually came up. However, during the floods of 1992, Mahora power house suffered extensive damages including the machinery and this heritage power house was finally closed down.
Ever since, Mahora power house has remained shut down and almost neglected. However, of late there are some rumblings in the PDD and we are told that the Government is re-thinking of making Mahora power house functional and with bigger capacity. We have learnt that the Government has approached a firm in Delhi to examine and prepare a DPR with instructions that instead of 9 a 12MW power generating plant would be installed.
We welcome this decision of the State Government for two main reasons. One is that the Valley will get a new 12 MW power generating plant which will supplement its power requirement. Secondly, the Mahora power house has great heritage relevant to the Valley and the State. Much of our history is connected with it. It was conceived during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh and served the State for a pretty long time more than three-quarters of a century. As such it has heritage value for us. Once it is rebuilt and made functionally hopefully within a couple of year from now, this will be a tourist destination also to remind the visitors that this power house is part of our history. We not only appreciate the initiative taken by the Government, we also exhort the Government and the PDD to waste not a single day in proceeding with the project physically.
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