Commissioned in 1936, during the British rule in India, the Shanan Hydro-electric Power House had been constructed under a 99-year lease deed executed between Joginder Sen, Raja of Mandi State and Col BC Batty, a representative of the then British Government in 1925. This project had been constructed in the most enchanting backdrop of lush green dense deodar forests with a 4-stage haulage rail network, one of its own type in the world, starting from Jogindernagar (height 4,300 ft) up to Barot, a cup-shaped village, on the bank of Uhl, a tributary of Beas.
During the reorganisation of States in November, 1966, Shanan Power House went to the share of Punjab as the 99-year lease deed between the Raja of Mandi and British Government had not expired at that time. A small-gauge rail line was laid between Pathankot and Jogindernagar to transport heavy machinery imported from Britain to Shanan Complex. It was further taken to Barot through the aesthetically haulage network as tremendous and challenging gigantic task including construction of reservoirs, canals and 2-km long tunnel was to be done.
The ropeway trolley, one of its type in the world, starts from Shananan site of the Power House (located at the height of 4300 ft from the sea level) up to a point known as 18-No. From there the second phase of the haulage rail line terminates at Winch Camp located at a panoramic place amidst green forest at a height of 8000 ft above sea level. From Winch Camp, a serpentine 3 km-long rail line had been laid up to a place known as Head-Gear. The track passes through a lush green dense forest of oak and deodar trees and enveloped in thick fog.
Shanan Power House used to feed the entire undivided Punjab and Delhi at that time. The sprawling Shanan complex spread over a radius of several kilometers was, in fact, unique project in the country and its marvelous setting had made it more of a world tourists resort than a mere power project. Thousands of tourists from across the world and the elite of the country including top film stars and other dignitaries used to enjoy ride of haulage trucks and trolleys up to Zero Point at Barot.
From head Gear, the ropeway trolley descends to a Winch House at Kathyaroo and from there descends to Zero negotiating a vertical steep length of about 100 meters called “Khooni Ghati” terminating at Zero Point in Barot on the bank of Uhl. From Zero Point a small-gauge rail line had been laid up to the mouth of the tunnel linking Barot with 18-No. Now the rail line has been uprooted. Tragically Barot, which once looked like a part of Switzerland, wears a deserted look and looks like a war-ravaged place.
The beautiful Bungalow of Head Works Engineer at Barot is lying in shambles. This reporter was told during a recent visit that he now Head Works Engineer sits at Shanan Power House Jogindernagar. The trolley service has been suspended. The ropes and pulleys have rusted and decayed for want of greasing and oiling. Earlier these were oiled and greased daily. The PSEB allegedly has stopped taking interest in repair and renovation of the national property knowing that it will have to transfer the project to Himachal Pradesh after 9 years. People of Barot and Jogindernagar allege that Punjab Government and HPSEB have conspired to hand over the project to Himachal Pradesh in 2024 in a dismal state of rack and ruin little realising this unique monument of power and tourism had yielded crores of rupees to Punjab from 1936 onwards.
Project which spread light in entire undivided Punjab and Delhi is currently crying for survival. Darkness is looming large on it.Ram Swarup Sharma, MP from Mandi Parliamentary constituency, is hurt and peeved over the callous attitude of the Punjab Government and the PSEB towards this historic and monumental project. He has brought this matter in the notice of the Prime Minister and others in New Delhii requesting them to direct the Punjab Government not to destroy this invaluable heritage.
