Historic Shanan Powerhouse Faces Decay Amidst Bitter Interstate Ownership Legal Battle

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) : The century-old Shanan hydroelectric powerhouse in Jogindernagar, once hailed as a pinnacle of North Indian industrial engineering, now stands in a state of distressing neglect. As a prolonged and bitter ownership battle between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab grinds through the Supreme Court, the iconic heritage site is crumbling under the weight of administrative inaction.

The crisis peaked following the expiration of a 99-year lease in March 2024. While the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) continues to operate the 110-MW facility, critics allege that the ongoing legal deadlock has brought essential maintenance to a standstill. Conservationists and local residents report that several colonial-era structures associated with the powerhouse and the Barot reservoir area are in a dilapidated state, with some buildings teetering on the verge of collapse.

For Himachal Pradesh, the project is a vital symbol of state heritage and natural resource rights. Conversely, Punjab maintains its claim based on historical administrative allocations under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Caught in the middle, the infrastructure suffers; residents point to broken roads, crumbling water channels, and inadequate security as evidence of a facility being run on borrowed time.

Even the historic funicular trolley system, once a marvel of transport engineering, remains defunct, its tracks overgrown with vegetation. While the Union Government has directed a "status quo" to ensure the facility’s continued operation, this interim measure has effectively locked the site in a preservation vacuum. Restoration efforts remain paralyzed, as neither state claims clear jurisdiction to fund or execute critical heritage conservation. As the legal tussle continues, experts warn that India risks losing an irreplaceable chapter of its industrial history to the paralysis of federal litigation.