DA Editorial Desk | dhruba deka
Tripura’s only hydroelectric project is set for a new lease of life. Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has announced a Rs 100 crore plan to restore the Gumti hydroelectric project at Tirthamukh, with work expected to begin in December. The aim is to bring generation back to between 10 and 11 megawatts.
The plant was built with three generating units and a combined installed capacity of 15 MW, though its output had already fallen to about 2.5 MW before the floods of 2024. Those floods damaged its machinery and brought operations to a halt. The government has since taken a careful route before spending any money. It engaged NIT Agartala, IIT Guwahati, NEEPCO and BHEL to assess the damage, and an AI-powered underwater rover was used to examine the submerged parts of the project. That kind of groundwork is a good sign.
The case for the project is easy to see. Hydroelectric power is clean and renewable, and it is a rare resource for a small state with limited land, and reviving an existing plant is often quicker and more economical than building a new one. A revived Gumti would add local generation, reduce the pressure on other sources and give Tripura a stronger base in its search for dependable electricity.
Several things will help the plan succeed. The first is a clear timetable. The announcement says work will begin in December, and the public would benefit from knowing the stages that follow: when the machinery will be repaired or replaced, when testing will take place and when the first units will return to service. A statement on how the Rs 100 crore will be funded would add confidence.
The second is safety. At a dam safety awareness programme held at the project site, the Minister stressed preventive measures, regular inspections and coordination among experts, departments and local authorities. He pointed to the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and called for inspections before and after each monsoon and for modern monitoring systems. These are the right priorities, and families who live downstream deserve clear information about how the dam is monitored.
The third is the lake. Dumboor Lake, with its 48 islands, is described by the Minister as a valuable asset for tourism, inland fisheries, biodiversity and livelihoods, and as a winter habitat for migratory birds. That is a reminder that the project sits within a living landscape. Restoration work should be planned so that fishing families, boat operators and the birds that depend on the lake are not harmed, and local communities should be kept informed as work proceeds.
Tripura has made a sensible start. If the schedule is kept, the funding is secure, safety is given priority and the lake and its communities are protected, the revived Gumti project can become a model for restoring public assets after a disaster. It deserves the support of everyone who wants a stronger, cleaner and safer power supply for the state.