CEA clears two power projects for Kargil, Leh

The Central Electricity Authority CEA has approved two hydroelectric power generation projects at an estimated cost of Rs 1300 crore in th...

The Central Electricity Authority CEA has approved two hydroelectric power generation projects at an estimated cost of Rs 1300 crore in the Kargil and Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir. Another Rs 480 crore would be spent in laying the associated transmission lines for evacuating power from these two projects.

The projects include a 44 mw Chutak hydroelectric project in Kargil at an estimated cost of Rs 675 crore and a 45 mw hydro power project in Nimoo Bazgo in Leh district at a cost of Rs 631 crore.

Both the projects would be executed by state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation NHPC at a total investment of Rs 1,300 crore.

8220;Ladakh 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 these two plants will give an impetus to the region8217;s economic development,8221; CEA chairman, H L Bajaj said on Monday. On the transmission line network for these projects, CEA said the proposed 220 KV single circuit line from Srinagar to Leh along with 220/33 KV sub sub-stations at Kargil, Drass, Khalsi and Leh would enhance the reliability of power supply.

Currently, the Ladakh region is supplied power from local diesel generators about 12 MW of Army and paramilitary and micro hydel power houses about 14 MW. The demand for power has remained supply-based, CEA said adding 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 Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo projects would utilise locally available renewable hydro source of energy and cost would be cheaper as compared to diesel generation, CEA said.