Restoration of Tripura’s lone hydroelectric project in Gomati district is scheduled to begin in December at an estimated cost of Rs. 1 bn, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on October 9. The project’s revival follows technical assessments conducted after extensive damage from floods in 2024.

The 2.5-MW Gumti Hydroelectric Project has remained shut since the floods affected its facility. The state government decided to proceed with restoration after studies examined whether the plant and related infrastructure could be brought back into operation.

Surveys were conducted by the National Institute of Technology, Agartala, the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL). The assessments were intended to establish the feasibility of restoring the facility and guide the proposed work.

The government has earmarked Rs. 1 bn for the project, with restoration work expected to start in December. Once the work is completed, the plant is projected to generate 10 to 11 MW of power daily, considerably above its original installed capacity of 2.5 MW.

The project was established at Tirthamuk 56 years ago by harnessing the Raima and Sarma hill streams. Its dam and reservoir have also become tourist attractions. Nath highlighted a dam safety awareness programme organised by the National Dam Safety Authority, saying such initiatives supported efforts to protect communities living downstream. The restoration is expected to return the long-shuttered facility to service while renewing attention on dam safety and water infrastructure management in Tripura.