NHPC’s green push extends to education in Darjeeling

NHPC director (personnel) Uttam Lal on Wednesday reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment not only to green energy but also to the development of the communities around its projects.

Mr Lal was speaking at the inauguration of the Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management (DHITM) at Takdah, Darjeeling. Congratulating the team behind the new institute, he said he hoped that students graduating from here would “bring glory to the country and the world.” Calling it a landmark initiative, he added that the college would open doors to new opportunities for the youth of the hills and promote inclusive growth in the region.

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The inauguration was formally carried out by Anit Thapa, chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), in the presence of Mr Lal.

Officials said the DHITM has been set up under NHPC’s CSR initiative of TLD-III & IV Power Stations, in collaboration with the GTA. It is the first technical degree college in West Bengal to function under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. While NHPC has developed the infrastructure, the institute will be responsible for operations and maintenance.

In its initial phase, the college will offer B.Tech programmes in civil, electrical, mechanical, and computer science engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in hotel management and catering technology. Future plans include expansion into other emerging disciplines as per industry demand.

Present on the occasion were Anil Kumar Dash, executive director, NHPC regional office Siliguri, Pradip Kumar Ray, head of NHPC TLDP-III & IV Power Stations, senior NHPC officials, GTA representatives, West Bengal government dignitaries, faculty members, students, and local community members.

Historical Background and Political Journey

Speaking at the event, former GTA chief and current GTA Sabhasad Binoy Tamang welcomed the development, describing the institute as a turning point for students of the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars. “It shall also contribute meaningfully towards restoring Darjeeling’s historic reputation as a centre of scholastic excellence,” he said.

Mr Tamang also placed on record the project’s history: On 7 November 2009, NHPC approved the project and laid its foundation stone, entrusting it to the Global Indian Educational Trust, Kolkata, to establish a private engineering institution.

In 2012, under an MoU between NHPC and GTA, the project was restructured as the Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management (DHITM), though it continued to be commonly referred to as “Takdah Engineering College.”

The MoU, signed by GTA’s then education sabhasad Roshan Giri, committed NHPC to provide Rs 40 crore (in three instalments) for construction, while GTA allocated 16 acres of land from its sericulture department. The foundation stone was laid by then GTA chief Bimal Gurung.

However, political unrest during the 2013 agitation stalled progress.

Mr Tamang recalled that during his tenure as GTA’s nominated chairman in 2018, the project was revived with fresh tenders and discussions with NHPC, which led to an additional commitment of Rs 15 crore. He urged the current GTA administration to clarify whether this supplementary amount was ever disbursed.

According to Mr Tamang, while NHPC has extended a total of Rs 40 crore under CSR for the project, several planned facilities remain incomplete. The original design included a main academic building, hostels for male, female, and faculty members, a restaurant, pharmacy, and parking space for 40 vehicles. He also expressed concern over reports of illegal encroachment on parts of the 16-acre land.

He further stressed the importance of upholding the Domicile and Regional Quota Policy adopted by the GTA Sabha in 2012, which reserves 80 per cent of seats for local students and 20 per cent for students from outside. He also urged the administration to implement the provision for NHPC scholarships for meritorious students, as envisioned in the original plan.

The Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management is affiliated with the Orissa Child Welfare and Education Trust (OCWET) and recognised by the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology.