Country’s oldest hydel project lying defunct
23 March 2012
SIDRAPONG, 23 MARCH: India's oldest hydroelectric station, the Sidrapong
Hydel Power Station (in sns photo below), has been out of commission
for months, but it could be generating electricity, employees say. "The
more-than-a-century-old electricity generating machines are serviceable,
but due to the apathy shown by the government, it is presently unused
maintaining that the project is of total loss," said mechanical
technician Dhadiram Chettri.
The plant was commissioned with a 600 KW capacity in 1897, according to the state department of power. The Burdwan raja donated the land and the electricity from the project was supplied to the hospital at Darjeeling, the Governor’s house, the correctional home, and the nearby tea garden factories.
In 1978, Sidrapong became a backup, used whenever the power station in town needed more electricity. The station used to be powered by Barbatia Khola, Kotwali Khola, and Hospital Khola. Cyclone Aila battered Hospital Khola, Kotwali Khola dried up, and Barbatia Khola became defunct because of the earthquake.
Mr Chettri said the department is not interested in the project, and the state electricity board has given it for lease to a private company.
"The state government has not taken any initiatives to renovate the cracks developed due to recent earthquake where the intake pipes, reservoirs and the water channels have developed serious cracks making it defunct," said Mr Chettri. If the fixed the station, it could generate electricity useful at times of load-shedding in Darjeeling, he said. "The government should look into this project as it is a piece of national heritage and the hydel power just requires a proper maintenance to run properly," Mr Chettri said. "In comparison to other electricity-generating projects like that of steam or coal, this is more profitable. There is a lot of investment but the expenditure can be overcome in about two years." sns
The plant was commissioned with a 600 KW capacity in 1897, according to the state department of power. The Burdwan raja donated the land and the electricity from the project was supplied to the hospital at Darjeeling, the Governor’s house, the correctional home, and the nearby tea garden factories.
In 1978, Sidrapong became a backup, used whenever the power station in town needed more electricity. The station used to be powered by Barbatia Khola, Kotwali Khola, and Hospital Khola. Cyclone Aila battered Hospital Khola, Kotwali Khola dried up, and Barbatia Khola became defunct because of the earthquake.
Mr Chettri said the department is not interested in the project, and the state electricity board has given it for lease to a private company.
"The state government has not taken any initiatives to renovate the cracks developed due to recent earthquake where the intake pipes, reservoirs and the water channels have developed serious cracks making it defunct," said Mr Chettri. If the fixed the station, it could generate electricity useful at times of load-shedding in Darjeeling, he said. "The government should look into this project as it is a piece of national heritage and the hydel power just requires a proper maintenance to run properly," Mr Chettri said. "In comparison to other electricity-generating projects like that of steam or coal, this is more profitable. There is a lot of investment but the expenditure can be overcome in about two years." sns
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