Tsewang Rigzin
Leh, May 26: Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to make Ladakh a carbon-free region, several villages in Leh and Kargil continue to rely on diesel generator (DG) sets for electricity. Many remote regions of Ladakh including Changthang, Zanskar and Nubra, remain unconnected to the national power grid.
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According to sources in the Ladakh Power Development Department (LPDD), there are currently 41 DG sets in Ladakh which include 18 in Nubra, 15 in Changthang, and 8 in Zanskar. The Government spends approximately Rs 25 crore annually to operate these generators, according to reliable sources. However, villages depending on DG sets do not receive 24-hour power supply. They get power for six hours in the evening and two hours in the morning, with extended supply only on special occasions such as Eid and Losar (Ladakhi New Year).
During winter, Ladakh’s power demand exceeds 74 MW, primarily due to heating needs, while the summer demand drops to around 35 MW. The region’s dependence on electricity is set to rise further once Nubra, Zanskar and Changthang are connected to the national grid.
In 2019, the Prime Minister commissioned a 220 KV transmission line from Alestang (Srinagar) to Leh via Drass, Kargil and Khalsi. This project, supported by four GIS substations with a capacity of 300 MVA, has connected 72% of Ladakh’s villages to the northern grid, ensuring round-the-clock power supply. LPDD is currently implementing several projects to enhance power availability. Under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), Nubra and Zanskar will be connected to the northern grid through 220 KV lines and 220/33 KV substations at Diskit (Nubra) and Padum (Zanskar). Nubra’s connection is expected by October 2025, while Changthang is scheduled to be linked by 2026-27 under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Ladakh is renowned for its vast potential in solar energy. The Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA), responsible for implementing non-conventional energy projects, has long promoted solar energy as an alternative to polluting diesel generators. In 2012, LREDA set a goal to electrify Ladakh through hydro, solar, or geothermal power within five years.
However, 13 years later, this vision remains largely unrealized. The agency implemented several projects, including the Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative (LREI), which aimed to develop 11 micro-hydro projects (totaling 11.2 MW) and install 125 solar photovoltaic plants of varying capacities. While some projects were completed, the overall execution fell far short of expectations.
As Ladakh continues its transition to a greener future, bridging the gap between ambition and execution remains a critical challenge.
LPDD is Installing Mega solar project at Phyang / Phey with an installed capacity of 50MWp DC with 25 MW AC and 40MWh BESS and 12 MW solar plant. This will be the local generation of LPDD UT Ladakh which will help in reducing the power tariff and adding green energy to the system.
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