Sidrapong Hydel Power Station
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The Sidrapong Hydel Power Station is the oldest hydroelectric power plant in India. Located in the town of Sidrapong near Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal, the power plant was first deemed a Heritage Power Station by the Government of India on the 100th anniversary of its foundation in 1997.
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[edit] Foundation
The power plant is located in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region at the foot-hills of Arya Tea Estate, about 12 km from Darjeeling town via Bloomfield Tea Estate at an altitude of 3,600 ft (1100 m). The location served the purposes of Darjeeling, which at the time was an important military sanitarium and a hill station increasingly popular with well-to-do tourists. The selected area also maximised the benefits of the water resources of local rivers and streams and the adundant, heavy rainfall. The towns of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri are in relative proximity to the power station. The first of its kind in Asia, the power station was established on November 10, 1897 by Charles Cecil Stevens, then-acting lieutenant governor of the Bengal province (during British Raj in India). Once fully operational, the project employed as many as 50 workers and supplied electricity to the Raj Bhavan, jail, hospital and the tea gardens of Darjeeling.
[edit] Functioning
The source of the power plant's water resources are the Kotwali (discharge: 4.00 cubic feet per second) and Barbatia (discharge: 1.50 ft³/s) rivers and the Hospital jhora (discharge: 3.00 ft³/s). The power plant's capacity benefits immensely from the high altitudes, heavy seasonal rainfall and the large number of small rivers and streams that are located throughout the valleys. The three rivers feed the power plant through three flume lines running between 1,500 to 3,500 feet (460 to 1100 m). The two forebay tanks have a capacity of 165,910 and 68,432 ft³ respectively. Initially operational at 130 kilowatts, further development and expansion raised the the installated capacity for 3 generator sets to total 200 kilowatts each. The derated capacity reaches 500 kilowatts with a gross head of 275 feet (85 m).
[edit] Renovation
For many decades, the project was ignored by the state and the private sector. Larger and modern power supply networks were developed to supply the growing populations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The number of workers at the power plant dwindled and the machinery fell into disrepair. During the Gorkhaland political agitation, the local residents struggled to preserve the station from rival groups seeking to demolish it. The station was damaged around this time due to a landslide and remained shut for a decade. The central government and the West Bengal State Electricity Board revived the power station again in 1997 to mark centenary of the station. In a special ceremony, the station was accorded heritage status by the central government, with a pledge to revive the power plant. However, efforts at repairing the plant and re-starting operations languished for 6 years owing to persistent technical problems and lack of attention from state authorities. The residents of the towns of Sidrapong, Risheehat, Arya and Bloomfield formed a committee on December 1, 2003 to revive and resuscitate the historic hydel project, in defiance of the government, which they blame for perpetually ignoring the monumental establishment.
