The Engineer-in-Chief (Projects) office of Himachal Pradesh’s Jal Shakti Department (JSD) is back in Fatehpur, Kangra district, nearly eight years after it was shifted to Mandi. Deputy Chief Minister and Jal Shakti Minister Mukesh Agnihotri formally dedicated the restored office on Saturday, confirming it would begin functioning from Monday.
Jal Shakti Department office restoration in Fatehpur
The office was originally set up during the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government. Its main job was to oversee major irrigation, flood control, and other key Jal Shakti Department projects in the region. It was moved to Mandi in 2018-19 during the Jai Ram Thakur government.
According to The Tribune, the office has now been re-established at Fatehpur, marking the end of its eight-year absence from the area.
Renovation work and official dedication
Agnihotri said the renovation of the office building is currently underway and would be completed shortly. The office will start operations from Monday, even as the finishing touches are being put on the building.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the restoration of the office would strengthen monitoring of key water-related projects in the region. The move brings the office back to its original location, where it was first established to manage important infrastructure work.
What this means for Kangra and nearby areas
For residents and officials in Kangra district, the return of this office means closer oversight of irrigation and flood control projects. The office’s presence in Fatehpur is expected to improve coordination and speed up decision-making for local water infrastructure work.
According to Himachal Pradesh Government, the state government has officially communicated the restoration of the office, confirming the administrative change.
Our Take: A practical move for better project oversight
In our view, this decision makes practical sense. The office was originally placed in Fatehpur to manage irrigation and flood control projects in the area. Moving it to Mandi in 2018-19 likely created distance between the office and the projects it was meant to oversee.
Bringing it back restores the original setup. The timing also matters — with renovation underway and operations starting Monday, the government is moving quickly to make the office fully functional. For a department that handles critical water infrastructure, having its key office closer to the projects is a step in the right direction.
To put it plainly, this is not just about shifting an office. It is about making sure the people responsible for irrigation and flood control are where the work actually happens. That is good news for Kangra and the surrounding areas.