Power plants at Leh, Kargil cleared

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) yesterday gave its nod to the 44 Mw Chutak hydroelectricity project, to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 675 crore in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The authority also cleared the 45 Mw hydroelectricity project to be set up at a cost of Rs 631 crore at Nimoo Bazgo in the Leh district of the state.

Both the projects will be executed by the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) at an investment of Rs 1,300 crore.

"The Ladakh region is a high altitude plateau devoid of vegetation and having severe winters. The area remains cut off from the rest of the country for vehicular traffic for most part of the year. Setting up of two power plants will give an impetus to the economic development of the region," the authority said.

When contacted, Yogendra Prasad, NHPC chairman and managing director, said: "We will complete both the projects within four years from the date of approval."

He, however, regretted undue delays in getting government approvals and said a mechanism for faster clearance (Cabinet clearance) must be in place for timely completion of the projects.

The authority said besides Rs 1,300 crore investment in setting up these two plants, another Rs 480 crore would be invested in transmission lines.

"The proposed 220 Kv single circuit line from Srinagar to Leh along with 220/33 Kv sub-stations at Kargil, Drass, Khalsi and Leh will enhance the reliability of power supply in the region and enable full absorption of energy from these projects," the CEA said in a release.

Currently, the Ladakh region is supplied power from diesel generators (about 12 Mw) of the army and paramilitary forces and micro hydroelectricity units (about 14 Mw).

The demand for power had remained supply-based, the CEA said. The single circuit line from Srinagar to Leh along with sub-stations at Kargil, Drass, Khalsi and Leh would not only enable reliable supply from the Valley to the Ladakh region during winter but would also ensure evacuation of surplus power from these projects to the Kashmir valley during high flow period, the authority added.

The Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo projects would use local renewable source of energy and cost of power generation would be cheaper as compared to diesel generation, the CEA added.

Power plan

• Both the projects will be executed by the NHPC
• Besides Rs 1,300 crore investment in executing these two plants, another Rs 480 crore will be invested in setting up transmission lines
• The Ladakh region is supplied about 12 Mw from diesel generators and 14 Mw from micro hydroelectricity units