Rangpo River

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Rangpo River
Sikkim rangpo river.jpeg
Rangpo River during dry season.
Location
Country India
State
Important Bridges
District
Towns/Cities
Physical characteristics
Source Menmecho Lake
  location Menmecho Lake, above Dzuluk, Gangtok district, Sikkim, India
Mouth Teesta River
  location
Indrakil Prayag, Rangpo Pakyong District, Sikkim, India
Basin features
Tributaries 
  left
  • Resi Khola
  • Rongli Khola
  • Pool Khola
  • Khaarey Khola etc.
  right
  • Richu Khola
  • Donok Khola
  • Ralong Khola
  • Pachey Khola
  • Kumrek Khola etc.

River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River, [1] it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang, Kumrek and Rangpo. The river demarcates the border between Pakyong District of Sikkim and Kalimpong district of West Bengal from Rorathang to Rangpo. At the town of Rangpo, the river joins river Teesta. The Rangpo is the third largest river of Sikkim after Teesta and Rangeet. Atal Setu Bridge the longest roadway bridge of Sikkim is over River Rangpo.

Contents

Path of River Rangpo as seen from Bandey Pokhrel View Point,Tareythang-Takchang, Pakyong District Sikkim Takchang4.jpg
Path of River Rangpo as seen from Bandey Pokhrel View Point,Tareythang-Takchang, Pakyong District Sikkim

The river runs through Pakyong District of Sikkim and a few parts of the Kalimpong District of West Bengal. This tributary flows mainly from east to west with a variable channel pattern including braided, meandering, straight, gorge and blocked lake. Landslides are very common along the river bank as cliff-like bedrocks are significantly exposed along the river valley wall. [2]

During Monsoon season, especially from June to September, the volume of water in the river and its tributaries rises heavily due to continuous rainfall in Sikkim.

The important towns along the route of this river are Rangpo, Rorathang, Rongli, Kumrek etc in Pakyong District of Sikkim.

Menmecho Lake, the source of River Rangpo MenmoiTso lake or Memencho lake.. Trout Breeding centre.jpg
Menmecho Lake, the source of River Rangpo

Its confluence with Teesta River is immediately downstream of Rangpo town, the confluence point is known as Indrakil Prayag.

At the town of Rangpo, there is a bridge across River Rangpo, the bridge is called Atal Setu Bridge or Rangpo IBM Bridge and it is the longest bridge of Sikkim.

Course

The river originates from Lake Menmecho near Dzuluk in Gangtok district of Sikkim. It flows down towards the villages of Pakyong District like Latuk, Rolep, Losing, Chochenpheri, Chujachen and reaches the town of Rongli, where it is joined by a river called Rongli Khola. It further flows through villages of Sudunglakha, Mulukay, Bering, Tareythang, Tarpin where the river is fed my many tributaries like River Richu, River Donok, River Ralang, River Pachey, River Khaarey and it reaches the town of Rorathang, where it is joined by one of its largest tributary- Reshi River. From here the river forms border between Pakyong District of Sikkim and Kalimpong District of West Bengal, flowing through villages like Bhasmay, Kashyong, Kumrek, Lower Mansong, Chanatar etc and other small rivers like Kumrek Khola, Pool Khola, etc., join in and the river finally reaches the town of Rangpo, where it joins river Teesta.

Hydropower Project

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Rongli is a town, in the Pakyong district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It lies on the banks of Rangpo River around 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Pakyong city, the district headquarters, and around 69 kilometres (43 mi) by road south of the state capital Gangtok. Rongli is also the headquarter of Rongli Subdivision of Pakyong district. Rongli is one of the oldest market of Sikkim that lies on the trade route between Kalimpong and Tibet.

Government College, Rhenock, Pakyong district, Sikkim (GCR) is affiliated to Sikkim University. The college caters to the educational needs of students from the nearby areas of Rhenock, such as Rongli, Chujachen, Aritar, Rorathang, Tareythang, Pakyong, Pacheykhani, Mamring, Reshi and Rangpo, and also to the students from other districts of Sikkim as well as neighbouring towns of Kalimpong district of West Bengal. The Government College, Rhenock came into existence in the year 2005 and the college was established by the Government of Sikkim.

Rangpo railway station is an under-construction railway station lying on Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Line in Pakyong District of Sikkim. Its code is RNGPO. It will serve Rangpo city, and three districts of Sikkim, which are Pakyong District, Gangtok District and Mangan District. It is 38 km (24 mi) from the state capital of Gangtok and 21 km (13 mi) from Pakyong Airport. The station will consist of three platforms and four lines after completion. It is expected to be completed by December 2023.

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Atal Setu Bridge is located at Rangpo, Pakyong district, Sikkim. It is the longest roadway bridge of Sikkim. It was inaugurated by Honourable President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu on 4 November 2022. It is constructed by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). The 1,123 m long bridge over River Rangpo lies on National Highway 10 and connects Pakyong District of Sikkim with Kalimpong district of West Bengal. The construction was started on 20 November 2017; the completion was slated on 20 February 2020 but due to certain circumstances and Covid pandemic, construction work took a little more time.

References

  1. Karan, Pradyumna P. (June 1989). "Environment and Development in Sikkim Himalaya: A Review". Human Ecology. 17 (2). Springer: 261. doi:10.1007/bf00889715. JSTOR   4602924. S2CID   154076001.
  2. "Rangpo River, India Tourist Information".
  3. "Gati Infra | Chuzachen Hydro Electric Power Project".
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Gati Infra builds 110 MW hydro power project in Sikkim – Economic Times". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  6. "The Powerhouse is located near Kumrek on Rangpo-Rorathang road on the right bank of Rangpochu". www.sserc.in.

27°11′31″N88°36′10″E / 27.1920°N 88.6028°E / 27.1920; 88.6028