Despite PM’s ambitious proclamation to make Ladakh a carbon-free region, the reality of the ground is more sobering. In 2025, several remote villages in Leh and Kargil will continue to operate under the hum and fumes of diesel generator sets. This heavy dependence on diesel-generated electricity highlights not only a logistical challenge in Ladakh’s unique geography but also a concerning administrative gap in executing a clean and equitable energy transition. According to the Ladakh Power Development Department, 41 DG sets continue to power several villages in regions such as Nubra, Changthang, and Zanskar – areas that remain cut off from the national grid. The Government spends nearly Rs 25 crore annually on operating these generators. Yet, despite this considerable expenditure, villages receive power only for six hours in the evening and two in the morning. Only during culturally significant occasions like Eid or Losar does the power supply extend beyond this limited window. This dismal level of service raises fundamental questions about equity, infrastructure planning, and governance.
Certainly, Ladakh’s terrain and climate pose formidable challenges. The region is vast, sparsely populated, and subject to extreme winters which significantly increase power demand, often exceeding 74 MW. With only 72% of the region currently connected to the national power grid, over a quarter of Ladakh still lives under unreliable or no power supply, despite the commissioning of the 220 KV transmission line from Alestang to Leh in 2019. The fact that Ladakh’s remote villages still rely on highly polluting diesel generators in a region being pitched as a symbol of India’s clean energy future is ironic and troubling. These DG sets contribute significantly to air and noise pollution, defeating the idea of a carbon-neutral Ladakh. Diesel combustion emits harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which not only threaten local ecosystems but also the health of the communities that depend on them.
The administration’s failure is not rooted in a lack of vision, but rather in sluggish execution. The Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency set out in 2012 to achieve total electrification through renewable sources such as hydro, solar, and geothermal within five years. Thirteen years later, that vision remains mostly on paper. Although projects like the Ladakh Renewable Energy Initiative brought in micro-hydro units and solar photovoltaic plants, the scale of implementation has been underwhelming and inconsistent.
However, there is a glimmer of progress. LPDD is currently installing a mega solar project at Phyang/Phey with an installed capacity of 50 MWp DC and a 40 MWh Battery Energy Storage System, along with a 12 MW solar plant. This move, once operational, promises to add green energy to the grid and reduce power tariffs. Yet, this project must not become another isolated achievement. Its success needs to be scaled and replicated across the UT with urgency.
Meanwhile, immediate alternatives must be employed to mitigate the reliance on diesel. Off-grid renewable solutions-particularly solar mini-grids, individual rooftop solar systems with battery backup, and mobile hybrid units combining solar and wind-should be aggressively deployed in remote areas. Any other viable alternative must be explored. NGOs and private sector players with experience in decentralized renewable energy should be roped in through public-private partnerships to fast-track installations. Furthermore, interim Government support schemes like subsidized solar lanterns and solar home lighting systems must be revived and distributed proactively, especially before the harsh winter sets in. Local youth can be trained in the basic maintenance of these systems to ensure reliability and create livelihood opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Ultimately, the administration must treat electrification not as a routine development target but as an emergency priority. Power is not a luxury-it is a basic right that underpins education, healthcare, communication, and economic activity. If Ladakh is to be a showcase for India’s carbon-free aspirations, then its most remote citizens must no longer live on DG sets. The vision for a carbon-neutral Ladakh can only be realized when policy pronouncements are matched with swift, inclusive, and ground-level execution.
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