News Analysis India

Tag: Ladakh electricity

  • Ladakh’s power scenario changed for better in a short span of time: Lt Governor RK Mathur

    By PTI
    LEH: The power scenario of Ladakh has changed for better in a short span of time, Lt Governor RK Mathur said on Wednesday, asserting that with solar, hydrogen and geothermal projects in the pipeline, the sector has great potential for changing the face of the union territory.

    Mathur said that many new areas have been electrified and power consumption in the last one year has grown by more than 10 per cent, while reiterating the need for time-bound removal of all diesel generator sets to achieve carbon neutrality in the region.

    The Lt Governor was discussing the ongoing and future projects of the Power Development Department (PDD) with Secretary Power Ravinder Dangi, Chief Engineer Distribution Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Superintending Engineer PDD Tsewang Paljor here, an official spokesperson said.

    Through a presentation, the secretary power informed the meeting of upcoming projects such as installation of new transformers in Leh city to address the issue of low voltage, introduction of smart metering system, maintenance and replacement of DG sets.

    It was noted that smart metering systems would help strengthen the mechanism of revenue collection and the department is pacing up the implementation of the project, the spokesperson said.

    Discussing the project of undergrounding distribution lines in Leh and Kargil towns, Mathur stressed on its importance and directed the department to include the project under the Smart City projects to be implemented in both Leh and Kargil cities.

    The meeting also discussed developments in projects being undertaken with various power companies, including the 5MW solar power plant project at Zanskar, the Detailed Project Report of which is in progress, the spokesperson said.

    Further, discussing the power project to be undertaken in Changthang region by PDD, the Lt Governor stressed that all works must be done in consultation with the Wildlife Department and that conservation of the wildlife, including the avifauna is pivotal in all developmental works.

  • Ladakh gets Centre’s nod for transmission lines at revised cost of Rs 1,310 crore

    By PTI
    LEH: The central government has approved intra-state transmission works at a revised cost of Rs 1,309. 71 crore to link far-flung villages of Ladakh to the grid and phase out DG sets towards achieving carbon neutrality in the Union Territory, a top official said on Saturday.

    The project on completion would also provide the army and the far-flung villages with clean power round the clock, he added.

    Congratulating the people of Ladakh on the approval of the project, Lt Governor RK Mathur said the intra-state transmission works have been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Power and include 220 KV S/C transmission lines of D/C tower (total 307 km), including Kargil-Padum (Zanskar) (207 km) and Phyang to Diskit (Nubra) (100 km) and two 220/33 KV Grid substation – one each at Diskit, Nubra (50 MVA) and Padum, Zanskar (50 MVA) with an outlay of Rs 1,309.71 crore.

    Mathur expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Power Minister RK Singh. Secretary Power, UT Ladakh, Ravinder Kumar said these projects were part of the Prime Ministers Development Package (PMDP) 2015, which could not have been taken up due to various issues.

    However, due to the painstaking efforts of the Lt Governor, his administration and public representatives, it is now approved and ready for tendering of works, Kumar added.

    He said the REC Transmission Projects Company Limited (RECTPCL) is the project implementing agency for executing the transmission works in Ladakh, while Power Grid Corporation India Limited (PGCIL) is the project management agency.

    “These transmission lines will link far-flung villages to the Grid and phase out DG sets used in far-flung villages, thus taking one more step towards achieving Carbon Neutrality in Ladakh. This will also provide the Army and far-flung villages with clean power round the clock,” he noted.

    Kumar added that the DPR cost of the projects has been revised from Rs 354.74 crore to Rs 1,309.71 crore by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).