Hydel Power in the Andamans
	17:2 IST

The highest point in the Andaman Islands is the 750 metre high Saddle Peak in North Andaman. The Kalpong river originates from its slopes. This river is a major stream of North Andaman and traverses in a northerly direction for a total length of 35 km before merging into the sea near the Aerial Bay on the eastern coast. The Kalpong Hydroelectric Power Project is located at this point.. Prior to its commissioning by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in September 2001, the islands were meeting their power requirements from diesel generating sets which were causing environmental and noise pollution. The Kalpong project has made a major shift in the source of power generation in North and Middle Andaman from the costly and polluting diesel-driven generating sets to the eco-friendly cleaner hydroelectricity. Kalpong is the first hydroelectric project in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is located near Kalara village of Digilipur tahsil in North Andaman. The project fully utilizes the Kalpong water. There is a 34 m high concrete dam on its left and a 27 m. high rockfilled dam on the right fork of the river. A link channel connects the reservoirs on both the sides. An approach channel carries the water from the main reservoir on the left fork to the intake point for further conveying it to the power house through a 133 metre long tunnel and then through 650 metre long steel pipes. The project is capable of generating 12.53 million units of power annually. Presently, the project supplies power to the entire Diglipur area. One of its three generators produces 1.75 mw of power, the total demand of this area. To cover the other areas of North and Middle Andaman, electric poles have been erected upto Mayabunder. Since the transmission lines have to cross through the reserved forest areas, some trees have to be chopped down. An environment impact assessment study was completed by the NHPC a year ago. Once the environmental clearance is received from the Centre regions up to Mayabunder will start getting hydel power, doing away with the diesel generators. Gradually, areas up to Baratang in Middle Andaman will be covered. Meanwhile, the old worn-out transmission lines in Diglipur have been replaced by new ones. As a result, the consumers are now getting a better quality of power. While the water from the dam is also used for irrigation, the volume of water downstream the Kalpong river has the potential of generating 500 kw of electricity to further supplement power generation. The Kalpong project has already saved diesel to the tune of Rs. 9.5 crore. The project will meet the cost on it once its potential is fully realized. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is now looking for other sources of eco-friendly power generation to protect the fragile eco-system of the islands.