Ganga Canal: River Ganga emerges from Himalayas into the plains at Haridwar. During the floods, the width of the river at Haridwar is about a kilometre. After the monsoon, the river splits and starts flowing into a number of channels separated by islands, formed by the deposit of sediments transported by the river. In course of time, the river channel on the western flank of Ganga has stablised and and has been able to develop a well defined path with firm banks. The town of Haridwar, har-ki-pairi and other ghats lie on the western bank of this channel. The eastern bank of this channel is in the form of an island made up of gradually consolidated river deposits. Regulated waters of river Ganga are diverted into this channel from Bhimgoda headworks, built across river Ganga about a kilometer upstream of har ki pairi. An escape has been provided on the eastern bank of the channel, almost facing har-ki-pairi. This ensures that the discharge and level of water flowing through har-ki-pairi and other ghats of Haridwar is maintained at the desired level in all seasons. Almost 5 miles (8 km) downstream, lies Mayapur, where the head regulator of Ganga Canal is located and from there the march of Ganga Canal begins. There is also an escape at Mayapur for the release of surplus supplies back into the river Ganga. The run of Ganga Canal from Mayapur to Roorkee is very classical, with falls, siphons, a levelcrossing and an aqueduct.
Bahadarabad Powerhouse: Bahadarabad Powerhouse was one of the first lowhead powerhouses built on Ganga Canal during the period 1910 to 1920. At that time, the head utilized at Bahadarabad was 18 ft. Apart from this there was a fall of 9 ft at Ranipur, about 3miles (5 km) upstream of Bahadarabad and another fall of 9 ft at Pathri about 3 miles (5km) downstream of Bahadarabad at Pathri. With the end of world war in 1945, plans were underway for the upgradation of powerhouse at Bahadarabad by increasing the working head from 18 ft to 36 ft through merger of Ranipur and Pathri falls at Bahadarabad. This involved raising the banks of Ganga Canal from Ranipur to Bahadarabad and excavating the canal bed from Bahadarabad to Pathri. It also involved the construction of a power channel, parallel to Ganga Canal at Bahadarabad for the construction of the new powerhouse. Since, there were no plans to dismantle the existing powerhouse at Bahadarabad, the new powerhouse proposed to be constructed on the power channel was named as Pathri Powerhouse.
Pathri Powerhouse: Construction activities at Pathri Powerhouse were in initial stages in November 1948. The layout of the powerpit was marked on the north side of Ganga Canal. Thereafter, the centerline of the power channel, running parallel to Ganga Canal was marked on the ground, followed by marking of the position of the banks on the upstream side and lines of excavation on the downstream side. This included marking of transition curves on the upstream side, as also on downstream side, for ensuring streamlined flow through the power channel on completion of the powerhouse. Bahadarabad Powerhouse was to function normally during the construction period of Pathri Powerhouse. The space available between Ganga Canal and the power channel was proposed to be utilized for the construction of offices and temporary buildings for officers and other project staff, storage of construction materials and equipment, workshops and other associated activities. It was also proposed to set up two brick kilns in the area. There was a separate subdivision headed by an assistant engineer, for the excavation of the power pit. Since, Ganga Canal was running full close by on the southern side, there was problem of substantial seepage in the powerpit during excavation and subsequently during construction. This involved cordoning off the area, with sheetpiles and setting up groups of tubewells for dewatering the pit. There was another subdivision under an assistant engineer for the construction of the power channel. Earthmoving equipment was to be used for the transport and consolidation of earth on the banks on the upstream side and for excavation and disposal of earth on the downstream side. The third sub-division was responsible for the construction of temporary buildings for offices and residence of project staff, procurement of construction materials and equipment, settting up brick kilns and for the development and maintenance of all residual services including electricity, watersupply and sanitation.
Construction materials: Flowing through the Himalayas and emerging in the plains at Haridwar, the river Ganga deposits most of its load of boulders, shingle, gravel, sand and silt in the bed of the river. Kankhal, lying about six miles ( 10 km ) downstream of river Ganga from Bhimgoda headworks, was an inexhaustible source of construction materials. The distance from Kankhal to Pathri powerhouse was about six miles ( about 10 km ). Picking up boulders, shingle, gravel and coarse sand from Kankhal, transporting it to the site of Pathri powerhouse and then proper storage of these materials was a an ongoing operation and was almost like a lifeline of construction activities.
Brick Klins: During the construction of Ganga Canal from 1842 to 1854, all masonry works were constructed with bricks in lime mortar. That was the time, when there was no rush. The bricks used in construction were neat, clean, true to shape and well burnt. Even after standing for almost 100 years in the works they stood there as monuments of quality construction. Under the context, setting up of two brick kilns at the site of Pathri powerhouse was a big challenge. Brick making practices in a number of local brick kilns were studied. A number of pits were dug out and different mixes of clay were tried for watering, mixing and weathering of clay. All types of wooden and steel moulds were tried for moulding bricks.The initial lots of sundried clay bricks were placed in neighbouring brick kilns for burning and for the study of shape, size, shrinkage and quality of burnt bricks.
Inspection House at Pathri: Pathri Inspection House was located about 3 miles ( 10 km ) downstream from Bahadarabad and was connected to Bahadarabad by a service road running on the left bank of the Ganga Canal. Pathri Inspection house was also connected to Bahadarabad by a metalled road running from Roorkee to Haridwar. Ganga Canal had a 9 ft fall at Pathri and thereafter, it crossed Pathri river through a siphon. The navigation channel was running by the side of the metalled road and it had a navigation lock on the upstream side of the siphon. Pathri Inspection House was built on a high embankment at the crossing of Ganga Canal and Pathri river and stood there majestically for decades. The land lying between Ganga Canal and navigation channel had grown into a dense forest and harboured all types of wild animals.
Pathri inspection house was close to Roorkee as also to Haridwar and was not in common use of the officers of Ganga Canal. Since, the temporary buildings at Pathri Power House were under construction, we found it convenient to stay at Pathri Inspection House during our short visits to Pathri Power House. With tall trees and forest on one side and Ganga Canal flowing on the other side, the drive along the service road from Pathri IH to Bahadarabad PH was very pleasant and soothing.
Members of our family and guests enjoyed their stay with us during our short visits to Pathri, with leisurely walks along the bank of Ganga Canal in soothing and scenic environment of the tall green trees of the adjoining forest. One fine evening, when all of us were sitting and gossiping in the open space on the embankment outside the inspection house, we spotted a tiger emerging out of the forest leisurely and picking up a path along the diagonal of the open forecourt of the inspection house. Everybody had a look at the tiger in hushed silence and stood still till the tiger completed its stroll through the court and had a profound sigh of relief when the animal ultimately disappeared in the wilderness.