The country's first electricity project awaiting reconstruction

It has been 9 years since the electricity generation was stopped at this hydropower plant, the first in the country and the second in Asia. The center was producing electricity at a capacity of 30/40 kilowatts based on demand until the earthquake of 2072. Since then it has been completely closed. "Even though electricity was being produced as needed until the earthquake, it was closed," said Bhimsen Lama, the head of the Pharping hydroelectric power plant. was built. During Chandrashamsher's visit to Britain, it was established after he returned home after discussing the possibility of building a hydropower plant in Nepal. Locals say that Chandrashamsher built the first hydroelectric power station by bringing an engineer from Britain. Engineer Colonel Kishore Narasimha Rana planned to generate electricity by collecting water from Kutli, Satmule and Sheshnarayan rivers in Pharping area south of Kathmandu.

vs. The center was inaugurated on 9th May 1968, four years after its construction began in 1964. After testing it by lighting a lamp in a common man's house in Khokna, the then King Prithvi Birvikram Shah inaugurated the center by lighting a lamp in Tundikhel. The electricity produced from the said hydroelectric power station was distributed to the then royal family, Rana family and others.

Locals say that it was built during the reign of Rana Prime Minister Chandrashamsher, so it was named 'Chandrajyoti Power Plant' at that time. The power house was operated under the power station at that time. A power house with a capacity of 240 kilowatts was built in 1911 in the neighboring country of Kunming, China. In India, in 1897, a power house with a capacity of 130 kilowatts was built in Darjeeling. In Nepal, the year 1911 means In 1968, Farping Power House with a capacity of 500 kilowatts, larger than the two neighboring countries, came into operation. Stakeholders claim that it is the first in terms of capacity even though it is the second in Asia.

The king's cousins ​​also participated in the construction of the first hydroelectric power station. At that time, General Padmashamsher Jabra supervised and monitored the overall construction work, while General Mohanshamsher Jabra and General Keshavashamsher Jabra were responsible for the supply and transportation of materials and equipment. Colonel Tilvikram and Subedar Bakhat Bahadur were in charge of the construction of the power house and installation of equipment. Laptan Devi Bahadur and Suvedar Harsh Bahadur were entrusted with the construction of the transmission line. Executive Engineer Colonel Kishorenarasingh Rana Power House planning and construction, Colonel Kumaranarsingh Rana assisted in the construction work. Electric engineer Bernau Ponte was entrusted with the construction of the hydropower station. Linza, an engineer from the General Electric Company, was in charge of installing all the equipment. It is said that about 9.5 million people participated in the construction of the power station.

A circular reservoir containing 528,783 cubic feet of water was constructed at a height of 3,927 feet above sea level for hydro power. From the reservoir through a 20-inch penstock pipe 2538 feet long, two 250 kW capacity turbines in the power house are pumped at a pressure of 288 psi, i.e., with a gross head of about 1860.23 feet, to produce 11 thousand volts of 3 phase and spin at 600 (rpm) synchronous speed. A General Electric generator was installed. The electricity generated from Farping was brought to Tundikhel substation through an 8-mile long 11 KV transmission line buried in wooden and steel poles. At that time, 3300 volts were stepped down to Singha Darbar and the palace of Rana and Raja's brothers in Kathmandu.

Pipelines, headwalks, reservoirs, powerhouses, colonies, substations, offices, transmission and distribution lines, telephone lines, transportation of goods from London to Calcutta and from Calcutta to Bhimfedi, from Bhimfedi to the construction site, salaries/salaries of Rs 7 lakh 13 thousand 273 was All the materials required for the hydroelectric plant were imported from Britain. It was imported from Britain via Calcutta to Bhimfedi in a car, but then it was carried to Pharping. The head of the center, Lama, said that the main equipment including turbines and generators were subsidized by the British government.

Deputy Executive Director of Production Directorate Madan Timsina claims that the subsidiary company of the authority is making a master plan and no conservation work has been started immediately. "The master plan is being prepared, now the report is being prepared, so important works have not been done," he said, "We will call for tenders and proceed with the work of the museum along with the tourist destination." He said that it was seen.

'After extracting electricity from the powerhouse, water should have been taken as drinking water, but water was taken directly to the powerhouse,' he said He said that there is a plan. AEEA Engineering Company, a subsidiary company of the authority, is preparing a master plan to build a tourist hub and a hydropower museum. In the history of 112 years since the beginning of electricity production, the total installed capacity has reached 3200 megawatts. He says that electricity can be produced from Farping hydropower station if desired.

1968 'Chandrajyoti Electricity House' was inaugurated on 9th June. It was in continuous operation till 2038. At that time, there was a shortage of drinking water in various areas of Lalitpur. The water from the reservoir of Chandrajyoti power house was pumped to the turbines of the powerhouse towards Bhainsipati. The head of the center also admits that the water from the reservoir is tapped in the pentatisk pipe of the power house and taken to the main areas of Lalitpur including Bhainsipati through Khokna. At that time, the main priority was given to drinking water in the then Water Resources Act, as the body responsible for water supply and hydropower was the same. "Hydroelectricity was ranked fourth," he said, "that's why the electricity production stopped when the water of the power plant started to be taken as drinking water."

'Chandrajyoti Power Plant' was operated under the power station. V.No. In August 2019, the name of the electricity station was changed to Nepal Electricity Corporation. The Nepal Electricity Corporation Act, 2019 was implemented to make Adda a corporation. The corporation was later made the Nepal Electricity Authority with the aim of making the institute self-sufficient and also promoting the investment of the private sector in electricity production. Under the Nepal Electricity Authority Act, 2041 V.No. It was made an authority on 1st August 2042. After the establishment of Nepal Electricity Authority in 2041, the name of Chandrajyoti Power Plant was changed to Farping Hydropower Center.

The country's first power plant was put into operation in December 2063 after extensive maintenance and started running for one hour a day or as needed. After 2063, only 30/40 kilowatts of electricity started to be extracted from the power house, according to the head of the center, Lama. Less than a decade after the start of electricity production, electricity production came to a standstill due to the 2072 earthquake. But water distribution is continuing since 2038.

In the year 2067, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, a centenary festival was celebrated at the power house under the coordination of the then Ministry of Energy. On the occasion of the centenary, a gate at the entrance and a monument at the cost of Rs 57 lakh have been constructed near the power house at a cost of Rs 27 lakh. At that time, the government said that Farping Power House would be turned into a museum. But so far, neither the museum nor the reproduction could be started.

Last July, on the occasion of the authority's 38th anniversary, it was said that by planting trees in the Pharping Hydroelectric Power Station premises, the Pharping Power Station will be turned into a museum. Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet, who participated in the program, was informed about the master plan to build the museum. Lama said that the Nepal Electricity Authority plans to develop the 500 KW Farping hydropower as an energy museum. The authority is preparing a master plan by appointing NEA Engineering Company as a consultant to develop the center as a tourist destination. According to the authority, old structures will be restored and new structures will be built on the vacant land by connecting the historical hydrology center with tourism. He said that there is a plan to build a green park, restaurant, shop, zip line, picnic spot, library, children's garden on the land in the reservoir and power house area of ​​the

center. There is a plan to renovate the structure of the hydropower center and develop it as a museum. It was said that the cost estimate for the implementation of the master plan prepared by the consultant is about 1 billion rupees. But the head of the center, Lama, said that the work is being done according to the DPR. "We have been giving basic information about how electricity is produced to the guests who come to see and learn about it," he said.