Press Conference Note of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha

SRINAGAR, October 20: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on October 18 approved the project on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh. The project will also be connected to the Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line to provide clean energy to J&K UT.

Interacting with the media persons, Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha said the 13 GW Renewable Energy Project will greatly benefit Jammu & Kashmir, apart from other parts of the country.

He said the UT administration is committed to provide un-interrupted and reliable power supply to the people. The prestigious project will ensure round the clock power availability, he added.

The Lt Governor said the project will offer an alternative source of power to the valley through the existing 220 kV Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar Transmission System, reducing dependence on Hydro Energy Generation, which diminishes during the winters.

He said the power transfer from Ladakh to Kashmir will improve the power situation in Jammu region as well because the power transfer to Kashmir from the existing central sector Grids namely 400kV Kishanpur and Jatwal grids situated in Jammu, will be proportionally reduced. This reduction will free up tied capacity at these grids, thereby improving availability in Jammu through the year.

The transmission line for evacuating power will run through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to Kaithal in Haryana, integrating with the National Grid and interconnection to Ladakh’s existing grid and the 220kV Alusteng Grid in Ganderbal district of Kashmir through Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line, to provide power to Jammu and Kashmir.

The 220kV Alusteng Grid in Ganderbal district of Kashmir has been further connected to the 220kV Zainakot Grid. Additionally, there is upcoming connectivity linking the 220kV Mirbazar Grid to the Alusteng Grid which is expected to be completed shortly. Keeping in view the proposed connectivity of RE generation in Ladakh with 220kV Grids of Kashmir, it can be said with certainty that the power transfer from Ladakh will positively impact the entire Kashmir valley, improving power availability round the year especially during power deficit winter months.

The said 13 GW RE projects are equipped with 12 GW Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) which will ensure round the clock power supply to J&K, based on the capacity of transmission system laid between Ladakh and Kashmir.

Kashmir is situated at the tail end of the Inter State Transmission System (ISTS), through which power from various thermal/nuclear generators located across different parts of the country is transmitted to the Kashmir region. The power supply from the said Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) supported renewable energy generator, located near Kashmir, will mitigate the low voltage conditions experienced during winters in the valley due to the decrease in hydro generation.

The RE projects in Ladakh region will provide greener energy with reduced carbon foot prints and will help to protect the fragile environment of Kashmir-Ladakh regions.

Further, the availability of RE Power through the existing 200kV Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line will create redundancy in the Transmission system in the valley and will help to mitigate the sufferings during disasters. J&K has proposed to lay new 400 kV Transmission line from Ladakh to Kashmir which will be the third source at 400 kV level to the valley apart from 400 kV Kishenpur-Wagoora and Samba(Jatwal)-Amargarh  Transmission Lines. The new 400 kV line will provide much needed redundancy in power to the valley and will cater to the future load growth which is evident after industrialization.

J&K may plan to install additional transmission lines for drawing more power from the said RE projects, as per the requirement and feasibility.

At the Press Conference, the Lt Governor also talked about the winter preparedness of the UT administration. He said the administration is working with utmost sensitivity to meet the peak power demand during winters.

We are in a better position in terms of Snow clearance equipments and machines. The uninterrupted supply of ration, medicine, and other essential amenities is being ensured, he said.