Date:28/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092856590300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

How Mysore woke up to the world of lights

Shankar Bennur

It’s 100 years since city started getting power supply; centenary fete to coincide with Dasara

City got power supply on September 26, 1908
Laser show to throw light on power generation at Shivanasamudra

MYSORE: The Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company has chosen Mysore Dasara festivities to commemorate the 100th year of Mysore city getting power supply.

The city got power supply for the first time on September 26, 1908, during the reign of Nalwadi Krishna Raja Wadiyar.

With people coming from far and wide for the ten-day Dasara festivities, the company deemed it appropriate to celebrate the centenary with a laser show throwing light on how the project was conceptualised during the time of the Mysore Maharajas, and on those responsible for establishing the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric station, from where power was transmitted to Mysore.

The project also realised the Mysore kings’ dream of illuminating the palace. Even after several decades, nowhere in the world has ventured into projects like the one undertaken by the Mysore Wadiyars to illuminate a palace.

“Dasara is the right occasion to celebrate the 100th year of the city getting power supply. So we thought of celebrating the moment in a unique way. Eventually, it was decided to hold a laser show to explain to people how electricity was harnessed at Shivanasamudra and transmitted to Mysore,” CESC Managing Director A.N. Ramesh told The Hindu.

The city was partly lit up on September 26, 1908, because of the efforts of K. Sheshadri Iyer, then Dewan of Mysore, and Maj. A.J. DeLotebiniere who was Deputy Chief Engineer of Mysore State.

It was Bangalore that became the first city in the country to get power supply from the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric power station. Kolar Gold Fields was the first town in Asia to get hydroelectricity from Shivanasamudra, and it was commissioned in 1902.

The 25-minute laser show, which will be screened across the city, will provide tourists an insight into the origin of hydroelectric power generation. CESC Superintending Engineer Ghouse Mohammmad Sharief, who along with Mr. Ramesh watched the show here on Friday, said that it would be conducted at nine places. The show will be conducted on all days during the Dasara festivities, except on Vijayadashami day when the city hosts the “Jamboo Savari” and the torch light parade at Bannimantap Grounds.

The show will be held at Bannimantap grounds, exhibition grounds, near Chamundipuram Circle, Andolana Circle, Mysore Palace, Mahajana College Grounds and Milad Park near the office of the Superintendent of Police. “We are tentatively planning to hold the show at these venues between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. There will be two to three shows at one place depending on the availability of time and the number of people,” Mr. Sharief said. According to CESC sources, the script for the show has been prepared by Gajanana Sharma, a technical officer with the CESC.