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Plea to convert old power house building into museum

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

The building that housed the old power house near the beach.

PUDUCHERRY: With a view to preserve places of significance, the Historical Society of Pondicherry plans to request the government to convert the old building, which housed the town’s first power house, into a “Personalia Museum”.

President of the society V.Nallam told reporters here that the plan was part of the centenary celebrations of the dawn of electricity in Puducherry. It was on July 14, 1909 that the French regime introduced electricity in the streets and houses of Puducherry, he said.

“We do not agree with colonisation but we can talk about the good things they did. People do not know the history of the electricity department and we want to make them aware of its history, development and good works. We will celebrate the centenary year for the department from July 14,” he said.

The D.C. Power House was established by the Pondicherry Municipality with a loan of Rs. 64,000. In 1941, the unit was replaced by two diesel generating sets and the power from the station was initially extended to the southern part of the Pondicherry town and later to the entire area, said retired Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department, S. Singaravelu.

After 48 years of operation, the power house was closed in January 1958. However, the premises of the house served as annex to the medical college which later became the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. It then housed the chamber of Council of Ministers, Chief Secretariat and Mahatma Gandhi Dental College.

At present, the building accommodates the office of the Pondicherry Rural Health Mission on the northern portion and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre on the southern portion.

“It is a very old building and should not be destroyed but made useful. We will suggest to the government to establish an auditorium in the east facing hall and convert the remaining portion of the building into a Personalia Museum to display photographs and contributions of historians. It can house the Pondicherry Museum,” Dr. Nallam said.

He said an Act to preserve monuments was essential. As part of the centenary celebrations, the society would organise events and symposiums. “We want to create awareness among public about the importance of history, monuments and events. This aspect is gradually disappearing,” he added.

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