Bolangir, Sept. 10 (UDN): More than a century ago, when electricity was still a rarity in the region, a small power house in Bolangir was already lighting up parts of the town. Established in 1911 during the reign of the former Patna Maharaja, the historic facility now stands largely neglected, prompting renewed calls for its preservation.
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Located near the old bus stand, the power house was set up by the then Maharaja of Patna, Prithviraj Singh Deo, who reportedly brought three generators from Germany to establish the facility.
The generators supplied electricity to important establishments, including the hospital and the royal palace, while also powering street lights in parts of the town after sunset.
Historical accounts suggest that Bolangir was among the earliest places in Odisha to have such a power generation facility. At a time when electricity infrastructure was virtually non-existent in much of the region, the initiative marked a significant step in the town’s modernisation.
However, the power house eventually ceased operations. The three generators that once formed the heart of the facility were later sold, while some equipment and artefacts associated with the power house were reportedly shifted to the Cuttack Museum. Several other remnants are believed to remain at the old site.
Today, the historic structure itself has fallen into disrepair. Years of inadequate maintenance have left the buildings vulnerable, raising concerns among local residents and heritage enthusiasts over the loss of an important chapter of Bolangir’s history.
The issue recently gained renewed attention after Odisha Minister KV Singh Deo highlighted the historical significance of the power house and suggested that the site could have been developed as a museum.
He pointed out that the building still exists despite the original generator having been removed, scrapped and sold, and noted that the site could have served as a valuable historical attraction for visitors.
Following the minister’s remarks, demands have intensified for the remaining equipment and historical artefacts to be identified, recovered and preserved.
There are also growing calls to restore the old power house and convert it into a heritage museum, allowing future generations to learn about Bolangir’s early tryst with electricity and the region’s technological history.
For a town that embraced electricity more than a century ago, the old power house today stands as a reminder of a pioneering chapter that risks being forgotten unless timely steps are taken to preserve it.
