LEH: Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Territory of Ladakh is taking significant strides towards becoming carbon neutral. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Power, is at the forefront of this transformation with a series of innovative and impactful initiatives aimed at reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable living in the region. Ladakh’s rugged terrain and high altitude make traditional energy sources costly and hard to access, emphasizing the need for alternative, eco-friendly solutions.
One of the cornerstone initiatives is the National Efficient Cooking Programme, under which EESL, in collaboration with Ladakh Power Development Department (LPDD), initiated provision of 2000 induction cookstoves to Anganwadi centers across Ladakh. This initiative addresses the health concerns associated with traditional cooking methods, which emit harmful pollutants, reducing their dependence on conventional sources of cooking. The induction cookstoves ensure a safer and healthier working environment for Anganwadi workers, also advocating sustainable and health-conscious cooking practices. As part of the NECP programme, Ladakh is the first Union Territory to distribute induction cook stoves in Anganwadi Centers and promote electric cooking.
Furthering energy efficiency initiatives in the region, EESL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh (LAHDC), which included crucial aspects of energy efficiency, including lighting, e-cooking, space heating and e-mobility.
Another significant effort by EESL is the deployment of 10W LED inverter bulbs under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)’s action plan for Ladakh. As part of a large-scale inverter bulb camp, organized in coordination with LPDD, EESL enabled access of 40,000 LED inverter bulbs to beneficiaries of Ladakh in the region of Nubra, Zanskar and Changthang. These inverter bulbs, which have a power backup of 4 hours, not only reduce electricity bills but also enhance the quality of life for households and students by providing reliable lighting during power outages.
The beneficiaries are expected to save approximately 8.76 million units of electricity annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 7446 tons each year. Additionally, this switch to LED bulbs results in monetary savings of approximately Rs 3 crores annually for the residents of Ladakh.
EESL’s efforts are a crucial stepping-stone towards achieving Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a carbon-neutral Ladakh by 2050, reflecting the company’s commitment to promoting energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy solutions across the region. By working to identify and implement tailored energy efficiency and clean energy programs that address Ladakh’s unique challenges and leverage its natural advantages, EESL is helping to reduce the region’s carbon footprint, improve energy access, and create a cleaner, healthier environment for its residents, while also aligning with India’s broader sustainability goals and building a more resilient and prosperous society.