Stresses integration of Renewable Energy for Ladakh’s long-term development
STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, accompanied by First Lady Bindu Gupta, on Thursday visited the NHPC Nimoo Bazgo Power Project at Alchi and reviewed its overall functioning and operational status.
Sanjay Kumar Rai, General Manager (Mechanical), NHPC Ltd, along with his team, accorded a warm welcome to the Lieutenant Governor and the First Lady.
During the visit, Rai briefed the Lt Governor on various aspects of the project’s operations, highlighting peak power generation during the months of May to September, electricity distribution through substations across Ladakh, and factors influencing seasonal variation in power generation.
At the Control & Command Centre and Early Warning Centre, he explained the real-time data collection system monitoring the flow and discharge of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, as well as the spillway gate heating system that ensures uninterrupted dam operations even during extreme winter conditions.
Through a detailed presentation, Rai outlined the project’s journey, informing that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted in 2003 and the project became operational in 2013 at a total cost of Rs 985.15 crore. He further shared that the 220 kV Phyang-Alusteng Northern Grid connection was commissioned in 2019, enabling the project to achieve an annual power generation of 200 million units.
He also highlighted NHPC’s contributions to local communities, including the supply of pollution-free electricity, employment opportunities, and a wide range of CSR initiatives such as construction of toilets and classrooms, repair of local infrastructure, internship programs, installation of street lights in Alchi and adjoining areas, and distribution of ice hockey kits to local players.
The Lieutenant Governor commended NHPC for ensuring an uninterrupted and reliable power supply in Ladakh despite the region’s extremely harsh sub-zero climatic conditions. He praised the high level of technical expertise, professionalism, and unwavering dedication of the project team, noting that their consistent efforts, innovation, and commitment have been instrumental in maintaining smooth, safe, and efficient operations of the power project even during peak winter months, thereby supporting essential services and overall development in the region. He further said that such landmark infrastructure projects play a vital role in strengthening the region’s energy security, reducing dependence on external power sources, and laying a strong foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth in Ladakh, while also reflecting the importance of resilient engineering and long-term planning in geographically and climatically challenging areas.
He stressed the need to further strengthen CSR initiatives in key sectors such as education, healthcare, and sports, assuring full support from the UT Administration for projects that positively impact local communities.
Kavinder Gupta also expressed keen interest in the integration of renewable energy solutions tailored to local requirements, emphasizing that sustainable power generation is vital for Ladakh’s long-term development.