Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet  approved a proposal to invest Rs 1,810 crore for 210 MW Luhri Stage-I hydropower project on river Satluj in Himachal Pradesh. 

About Luhri Stage-I hydropower project 

• It is located on river Satluj which is situated in Shimla and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh." 
• This project will generate 758.20 million units of electricity annually.
• The project will be implemented by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on the Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) basis in next five years.
• The power generated from the project will help in providing grid stability and will improve the power supply position.

Importance of this Project

• “Besides adding valuable renewable energy to the grid, the project would also lead to reduction of 6.1 lakh tons of carbon dioxide from environment annually, thus contributing to improvement in air quality,”

About Satluj River

• The Satluj rises from the Manasarovar-Rakas Lakes in western Tibet at a height of 4,570 m within 80 km of the source of the Indus.
• Like the Indus, it takes a north-westerly course upto the Shipki La on the Tibet-Himachal Pradesh boundary.
• It cuts deep gorges where it pierces the Great Himalaya and the other Himalayan ranges.
• Before entering the Punjab plain, it cuts a gorge in Naina Devi Dhar, where the famous Bhakra dam has been constructed.
• After entering the plain at Rupnagar (Ropar), it turns westwards and is joined by the Beas at Harike.
• From near Ferozepur to Fazilka it forms the boundary between India and Pakistan for nearly 120 km.
• During its onward journey it receives the collective drainage of the Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers. It joins the Indus a few kilometres above Mithankot.
• Out of its total length of 1,450 km, it flows for 1,050 km in Indian territory. It is the longest of the five tributaries of the Indus River that give the Punjab (meaning “Five Rivers”) its name.?