Sidrapong Hydel Power Station - India's First Hydel Project
1001 Things·
Commissioned on 10 November 1897 in the foothills of Arya Tea Estate near Darjeeling, the Sidrapong Hydel Power Station is India's first hydroelectric project and one of Asia's oldest power stations — now a recognised cultural heritage site.
First Mini-Hydel Project of India
Many may not know that the Sidrapong Hydel Power Station, or Sidrapong Hydroelectric Power Station, is the oldest power station in India. Many people are not aware that this power station holds the distinction of being India's first Hydel project and is also one of Asia's oldest power stations.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station The old iron bridge.
Sidrapong, a Cultural Heritage Site
The central government has granted cultural heritage site status to it. Situated just 12 kilometres from Darjeeling Town, in the foothills of Arya Tea Estate in Darjeeling District, it occupies a prominent location. Initially constructed in the late 1890s with a capacity of 2x65 kW, it underwent phased expansions to meet the growing demand for electricity, ultimately reaching a capacity of 1000 kW.
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Sidrapong Hydel Power Station The machinery inside the station.
In 1916, 19 years after its commission on 10 November 1897, it underwent a machinery replacement to enable a more efficient triple-phase transmission. This upgrade was necessary as the power station had reached the limit of its water supply.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station The British machinery.
This power station operates by utilizing the water brought in from three streams or Jhoras (Nepali for streams) known as Kotwali, Hospital, and Barbotia. To channel the water, they employ flumes constructed from 1.3 mm thick black metal sheets, as well as masonry duct and concrete lining.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station The original vintage switch system.
In order to establish this power station, the Darjeeling Municipality Commissioners borrowed INR 1 Lakh from the government. The Maharaja of Burdwan owned the selected site for the construction of the power station.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station The main building.
Historical Significance and Challenges Faced in Establishing the Power Station
Recognizing the project's public interest, the Maharaja willingly handed over his orchard to the municipality. All the machinery and materials for the project were imported from Britain, and individuals had to manually transport them due to the lack of any other convenient means of transportation.
Until 1978, the Darjeeling Municipality supervised the power station from its establishment. However, on January 30 of the same year, the West Bengal State Board of Electricity took over the power station as it absorbed the Darjeeling Electric Supply Undertaking. The Sidrapong Power Station was close to reaching a century of providing electricity when a landslide in the 1980s inflicted severe damage upon the station.
The closure of the antique power station for nearly a decade resulted from this event. In 1997, the power station underwent revival to celebrate its 100-year milestone, and it has since been recognized and acknowledged as a cultural heritage site. The restoration of Sidrapong had been an ardent desire of the Darjeeling natives.
The residents of Sidrapong, Risheehat, Arya, and Bloomfield established a committee in 2003 to revive the power station. The central government granted Rs. 8 crore to the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2014 for renovating the historic monument following the residents' initiative. Presently, out of the three installed turbines, only one unit is operational for electricity generation.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station Dali or Bloomfield tea garden.
Both the airport and railway station are conveniently located near Siliguri, a prominent city in West Bengal. To reach Sidrapong from Siliguri, the initial destination is Darjeeling town, which is approximately 62.7 km away via road and takes approximately two and a half hours to drive.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station Aerial view from the hanging bridge.
From Darjeeling, there are two routes to reach Sidrapong. The first route is through Arya Tea Estate, which is located 6 km away from Darjeeling. From there, it requires a 3 km journey on foot to reach the Sidrapong forebay.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station Sidrapong tea garden seen from the station.
An alternative route to access the Sidrapong forebay is by traversing through the Bloomfield tea factory. This route involves an 11 km drive up to the factory, followed by a foot journey along a gravelled path.
Sidrapong Hydel Power Station The hanging bridge with a pipeline.
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