Over 56,000 square kilometers of Ladakh region remains cut off from rest of the country for six months (from November to April) and because of climatic conditions the working period is only four months (from June to September). Small and local hydroelectric power generating units meet the power requirements of the people of the region but power deficit remains a perennial problem. Apart from its peculiar geography and topography, Ladakh region, comprising the districts of Leh and Kargil, has borders touching with those of China and Pakistan. This explains the importance of the entire region.
The task of laying 220 kv 332 kilometer long Srinagar-Leh transmission line passing through Srinagar-Zojila-Drass-Kargil-Khalsti-Leh was given to the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and the foundation stone of this important project was laid by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on August 14, 2014. We are told that the PGCIL has completed 50 per cent of the task so far and hopes to meet the deadline of laying entire transmission line by October 2017. It is heartening to know that this mega project will hopefully be completed within the stipulated time. With the full laying of transmission line, it will be possible to provide electric power to the entire region on regular and uninterrupted basis. It will transform the life of the people in this cold and mountainous region and will also help people establish small scale industries for which power is the first requirement. Ladakh has the potential to be a place where electronic goods and gadgets can be produced besides watches and micro machines once power is available. It bodes well for the prosperity and development of the entire region which at present has tourism as the main industry.
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