November 10, 1897 has been an epoch making day in the history of power sector in our country, century back on this day the first hydel power station and reportedly in Asia too was commissioned at Sidrapong near Darjeeling Town, heralding the Electrical-Energy-Era in the Indian Sub-continent. On February 11, 1896 a meeting of the Municipal Commissioners of Darjeeling was held and presided over by R. T. Greer, I. C. S. the then, Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling and the Chairman of Darjeeling Municipality. At the meeting they resolved to set up a Hydro Power Station to light up Darjeeling Town by seeking a loan of Rs. 1. Lakhs from Government. A site for the Power Station was selected at the foot of the Arya Tea Estate at Sidrapong. What was then a fine orchard of the Maharajah of Burdwan and considering the importance of the scheme in the public interest, Maharajahdiraja Sir Bijoy Chand Mahatab Bahadur, G.C.I.E.K.C.S.I., I.O.M. was pleased to make it over to the Municipality. The work of installation of power station was started immediately. The Machines and Equipment came from Britain. There being no proper road communication all the Equipment, Machinaries and construction materials had to be transported manually.

The first plant consisted of two 65 KW Crompton-Brunton Single Phase 2300 volts and 83.3 cycles alternators coupled with two Gunther’s Turbines. The country’s first Hydro-Electric Power Station with 2 x 65 KW capacity was commissioned on the 10th November, 1897 by C. C. Stevens the then Acting Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. It is a noteworthy fact that the first power utility run on commercial basis for use of general public sector under state patronage. The total initial cost of installation of this power station had been only Rs. 1.2 Lakhs. In 1905 one 135 KW set was installed in 1909 in the same power house. The place being too small a new power house was built in 1916 at a higher location, now known as Jubilee Power House. In this way the total capacity of the station grew from 130 KW to 1000 KW. But owing to the limited supply of water the generation could not be increased to match the growing demand of the town and of the neighbouring tea gardens to run their factories with electricity. Various schemes were prepared to install larger power station elsewhere. The present installation, therefore, consist of 3 sets of 200 KW at Sidrapong power house besides one D. C. hydel generating set and 20 KW for auxiliary power.

West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) inherited Sidrapong hydel power station by taking over the Darjeeling Electric Supply undertaking from Darjeeling Municipality on January 30, 1978. And has since been under WBSEB.

SALIENT FEATURES

Location :-

At the foot-hills of Arya Tea Estate, about 12 km from Darjeeling town via Bloomfield Tea Estate at an altitude Of 3600 ft.

Source of Water :-

Source Min. discharge

Barbatia river 4 .00 cusecs

Kotwali river 1 .50 cusecs

Hospital jhora 3 .00 cusecs

Installed Capacity 3 sets of 200 KW each commissioned on 10th November, 1897.
Derated Capacity 500 KW
Gross Head 275 ft.
Intake Weir Diversion type
Flume Line Fed by three flumes :
Flume Length Size
Barbatia 2500 ft. 2’0″x2’0″
Kotwali 1700 ft. 2’0″x2’0″
Hospital 3200 ft. 2’0″x2’0″

(all of black plain steel sheets folded in rectangular shape and bolted longitudinally).

Penstock :-

Two Nos. 18″ dia for M/C No. 3 & 22″ dia for M/C No. 1 and 2 Length 720 ft &
725 ft

Forebay Tank :-

Area Capacity
223’x60’x15’ 1,65,910 cft
112’x49’x12’ 68,432 cft