Work apace on renewable energy projects
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 31: Several border areas in the strategically important Union Territory of Ladakh will be connected with National Power Grid by October next year and work is apace on the projects for development of renewable energy. However, carbon-neutral energy audits have yet not been conducted.
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This was revealed by Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Power Shripad Naik in a written reply to the question of Member of Parliament from Ladakh Mohd Haneefa in the Lok Sabha today.
“Nubra, Zanskar and Changthang regions are presently electrified through off-grid mode by small Hydro Electric Projects, solar PV plants and diesel generators. In order to provide grid connectivity to these areas, 220 kV Nubra and Zanskar transmission line and 66 kV line from Himya to Nyoma and from Kharu to Durbuk is under construction”, the Minister informed the Parliament.
He disclosed that under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), works amounting to Rs 687 crore have been sanctioned which include infrastructure works worth Rs 567 crore for providing grid connectivity to Changthang Region. “The works once executed would help in improving the quality and reliability of supply of power in the Union Territory”, he added.
In response to a question regarding connecting border areas of Ladakh with the National Electricity Grid and timeline for the same, Shripad Naik said, “335 kilometers, 220 kV Srinagar-Leh Transmission Line has already been completed and commissioned in 2019. In order to further connect border areas with the National Grid, the work is apace on 220 kV Phyang-Disket (Nubra) transmission line”, adding “out of 265 total towers, 90 have been erected and 224 tower foundations are ready. Moreover, 17.67 kilometers stringing has been completed so far”.
“Likewise, substantial progress has been made on 220 kV Drass-Padum (Zanskar) transmission Line. Out of 675 total towers, 339 towers have been erected and 577 tower foundations are ready. Further, 27.77 kilometers stringing has been completed”, the Minister said while disclosing that these projects will be completed by October 2026.
According to the Minister, the UT of Ladakh has reported some projects for development of renewable energy/storage. As far as development of 25 MW AC, 50 MWp Solar Power Plant with 40 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Taru with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is concerned, the work has been awarded and is under progress.
Further, 7 MW Solar Project with 9 MWh BESS at Stakna Hydel Project site has been identified and bid is under process on Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model. Likewise, 1.5 MW (AC), 4.5 MW DC Solar Power project with 12 MWh BESS site in Nubra and 6 MW AC with 12 MWh BESS Solar Power project in Zanskar on RESCO Model have been planned.
To a query whether all villages in the Union Territory of Ladakh have access to 24×7 electricity during winter months when solar output drops significantly, the Minister said, “as per Rule (10) of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, the distribution licensee shall supply 24×7 power to all consumers. However, the Commission may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers. The Rules are applicable for all States and UTs”.
“Government of India has supported the UT of Ladakh under the scheme of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and is currently supporting under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS, to help it achieve the objective of providing quality and reliable supply of power to all households”, the Minister said.
About carbon-neutral energy audits in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Minister said, “carbon-neutral energy audits have not been conducted for Government buildings and Defence establishments in the UT till date”.
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