REC & Power Grid to develop intra-state transmission lines in Ladakh

• The Central government has given its approval to the revised cost of Rs 1,309.71 crore for the project, which has been in the pipeline since 2015

• The transmission lines will bring clean electricity to Ladakh's villages and the defence establishments which remain cut off from the rest of the country for 6 months in winters

New Delhi: State-run REC Ltd and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) will develop intra-state transmission lines at a cost of Rs 1,309.71 crore to connect Ladakh's far-flung villages to the grid, sources in the two PSUs told PSU Watch on Saturday. The Central government has given its approval to the revised cost of Rs 1,309.71 crore for the project, which has been in the pipeline since 2015 but could not be taken up due to various issues. The transmission project will bring clean electricity to the villages in the region and the defence establishments which remain cut off from the rest of the country for 6 months during winters.

Ladakh intra-state transmission lines

Conveying the news to the people of the Union Territory, Ladakh's      said that the intra-state transmission lines have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Power. It will include 220 KV S/C transmission lines of D/C tower (total 307 km), including Kargil-Padum (Zanskar) (207 km) and Phyang to Diskit (Nubra) (100 km) and two 220/33 KV Grid substation – one each at Diskit, Nubra (50 MVA) and Padum, Zanskar (50 MVA).

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While REC Transmission Projects Company Ltd (RECTPCL), a subsidiary of REC Ltd, will serve as the project implementing agency, Power Grid will be the project management agency for the transmission project, said sources.

The backdrop

According to a study conducted by Power Grid, Ladakh has a potential to generate 42.4 GW of wind and solar power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in 2020 the government's plan to set up an ultra-mega 7,500 MW solar power project in the Union Territory. The development of transmission lines for the region will not only put Ladakh's remote villages on the national power grid but will also allow solar and wind power projects in the region to transmit surplus power to the rest of the country.  

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