Leh, Ladakh, Kargil Power Demand Vs Supply

Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Transmission System

The Power Grid Corporation of India the central transmission utility under Ministry of Power,
Government of India, is implementing the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Transmission System for connectivity of
Leh/ Kargil area in Ladakh with Northern Region Grid at 220kV level for meeting demands of the Ladakh
region.

Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Transmission System includes 375 km Transmission line at 220kV voltage level
from Alistong (Srinagar) to Leh via Kargil with four 220/33kV Sub-stations at Drass, Kargil, Leh and
Khalsti. This transmission system shall be able to facilitate availability of power of about 100-150 MW in
the Ladakh region.

Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, of about 56,000 sq km area, comprising of Leh and Kargil
districts, covers about 70% of the total area of Jammu and Kashmir region and is one of the highest
inhabitation in the world with an elevation of 2400m to 4500m above sea level. The difficult terrain has
left Ladakh region isolated with no electrical connectivity with the rest of the National power grid. The
power demand of the area is met by some local small micro Hydel (14 MW) and diesel generators (12
MW). The region is experiencing an energy shortage of about 95%.This transmission system shall be able
to feed about 100-150 MW to Ladakh Region.

The Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 240-Megawatt Uri-II Hydro Electric
Project (HEP) located near the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district of Kashmir.

In 2014, the central government signed an agreement with the Jammu & Kashmir government for about
7,500 Mw of solar power 5,000 Mw in Ladakh and the rest in Kargil. The 5,000 Mw in Ladakh was
included in the list of the solar ultra mega power projects (UMPPs) planned by the successor
government which came to power the same year.

PGCIL is already constructing a 220 Kv line to connect Leh, Ladakh and Kargil and all these remote areas
with the Northern grid. This was planned five-six years before. Then, such mega solar power capacity
was nowhere in the plan. If transmission is now planned for solar, it will take another five years and
increase the cost to Rs 30,000-50,000 crore.

PGCIL is just building a 220 Kv line in that area and there is no plan to expand capacity. The idea to
award the corridor to private companies through the bidding route has also been shelved, as it is in a
strategically important location
Peak power demand of Ladakh is 200 Mw, met by its current installed capacity of hydro and rooftop
solar power, and micro grids

A transmission system, Green Corridor-I, is being built by PGCIL to connect solar-rich states. Green
Corridor-II for solar parks would be either built by the project developer or bid out to private
transmission companies. Ladakh does not come in either category.

Current Concerns :

Solar power generation capacity planned for Ladkah was 5,000 Mw, for Kargil was 2,000 Mw
MoU signed in 2011 by the UPA government
NDA added the 5,000 Mw Ladakh plant in list of solar UMPPs
No headway on who would build the transmission to evacuate 7,500 Mw solar power and
connect with Northern Grid
If included with power project, cost to escalate & shun investors, fears state
Centre says hill councils had issues with profit sharing in the MoU. This might pose problems in
land acquisition

Hydro Power Potential:

J&K has untapped hydro power potential of around 20,000 Mw, of which 16475 MW have been
identified. It includes 1608 MW in Indus basin. Out of identified potential (16475MW), 3263 Mw has
been exploited so far, which constitutes 19.8 % of identified potential. Besides, on Chenab basin 3
projects Pakal-Dul, Kiru & Kwar, with aggregate capacity of 2164 Mw entrusted to Chenab Valley
Power projects ltd (CVPP) have reportedly been cleared by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and
tendering are under process. Also, on Chenab basin, 1000 Mw Ratle HE project has been allotted to a
private developer on Built, Finance, operate & transfer (BOFT) model of PPP. However, in case Indus
basin, hydro power exploited so far is 93.5 Mw (incl. NHPC projects), which is only 5 % of identified
potential.

Hydro Power Opportunities in Ladakh, 4 potential sites have been identified on main Indus with a power
potential of 760 MWs. These are : i) Ulitopo 85MW, ii) Khalsi 90MW, iii) Dumkhar 70 MW, iv)
Achinathang Sanjak 220 MW, v) Sunit 295 mw.

Similarly, 4 sites have been identified in Kargil on Drass Suru rivers with potential of295 MWs. These
are : i) Parkachik-Panikhar on river Suru 100MW, ii) Drass- Suru stage-I 35MW, iii) Drass- Suru stage-II
60 MW,

iv) Kirkit on river Drass in range of 100 MW or higher.

220kV transmission line between Alusteng and Leh approved for providing grid connectivity to Ladakh
Region at a cost of Rs. 1788.41 Crores including 4 no. 220/66 kV S/Stns at Drass, Kargil,Khalsi & Leh. The
implementation has been entrusted to PGCIL. Work started and is expected to be completed by 2017.