Question

Where was the first hydel power station established in India?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Karnataka
C. Uttarakhand
D. Andhra Pradesh

Answer 1

Hint: In India first hydel power station was established way back, during the times of British rule. It was constructed to provide electricity to a very famous goldmine.

Complete answer:At present, almost every house in India has some kind of electrical connection but a hundred years ago, there was none. Production of electricity was there, but mainly for the exploitation of India's resources by the British Empire. The first hydropower project of India was conceived for the same purpose. Goldfields of Kolar district (presently in Karnataka) were under the control of the British Empire and to mine more efficiently it was planned to provide electricity to the mines. Power station became operational in 1902. Power output was around 700KW and it was launched by Donald Robertson, the then resident General of Mysore state. Shivanasamudra is the name given to this power station. It was built on a tributary of the river Kaveri. There are many waterfalls along this river. A major waterfall is near Shivanasamudra. The area was under the erstwhile State of Mysore and this plan was immediately approved by the then King “Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar” when proposed by Major Lotebiniere. He was the deputy chief engineer of the erstwhile state. At present, this power station is a big tourist attraction and thousands of people visit it during the monsoon season for panoramic views.

Thus, option (B) is correct.

Note: To build this power station, parts were brought from England, Australia, and the USA. Then parts were transported to the site using elephants, horses, and bullock carts.