Agartala: Tripura’s only hydroelectric facility, the Gumti Hydroelectric Project, is facing a total rebuild. The 2024 floods crippled the 50-year-old plant, leaving it in ruins. Officials now target a December 2027 revival to bring 10 MW of clean power back to the state grid.
The devastation began in August 2024. Rising waters forced the Dumboor dam gates open, sending a surge downstream that triggered landslides. The powerhouse took the heaviest hit. "The floodwater completely submerged the powerhouse. Heavy deposits of water and mud entered the turbine and power-generation areas, severely damaging all three units," said Mihir Debbarma, Deputy General Manager of the Gomati Electrical Division.
Mud destroyed everything from turbines and generators to control panels and cabling. While the plant remains offline, officials confirmed the Dumboor dam structure itself is safe. Tripura Power Generation Limited has opted to modernize the 3x5 MW plant rather than settle for simple repairs. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation is leading the restoration.
Engineers face a hidden challenge. They need to inspect underwater channels, emergency gates, and flap gates connecting the dam to the powerhouse. A specialized agency from Kerala is using remotely operated vehicles to survey the site. "Underwater measurements and assessments are required to determine the exact dimensions and identify whether there are any obstructions," noted Manoj Debbarma, Deputy General Manager of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation for the plant on September 22, 1969. Chief Minister Sukhamoy Sengupta inaugurated it on July 10, 1976. Decades later, the state is betting on this modernization to give the ageing asset a second life.
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