Modi inaugurates NHPC power projects in Ladakh
Foundation of Sri-Leh power line laid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated two hydropower projects owned by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), in the mountainous region of Ladakh. With this the total generation capacity of NHPC in the state has scaled to 1959-MW.
Modi who flew from New Delhi to Leh district of the Ladakh region this morning inaugurated the run-of-the-river 45-MW Nimoo Bazgo project there.
Set up on the Indus River at village Alchi in Leh the Nimoo-Bazgo has come at the cost of Rs 985-crore and is designed to generate 239 MUs of energy from three units of 15-MW each.
On the occasion, Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 1788 crore Srinagar-Leh Transmission line slated to be completed in three years.
“These projects will connect Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir with the other parts of the country through energy,” Modi told a public gathering at Leh, an official statement said.
The 330-km transmission line was approved by the then NDA government headed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, the work on the project got stalled owing to some unknown reasons.
“Today we have realized the dream of Atal Ji,” Modi exclaimed.
In the afternoon, Modi flew to here from Leh to inaugurate 44-MW Chutak power project at a well organized function. The Chutak Project is built on Suru River (tributary of Indus) in Kargil district and is also a Run-of-the-River project.
Set up at the cost of Rs 894 crore, Chutak is designed to generate 216 MUs of energy from three units of 11-MW each.
“Prakash (energy), Paryavaran (environment) aur Paryatan (tourism)” of Ladakh are such a strength that not just Jammu and Kashmir, the entire nation will benefit from it. Energy (prakash) from here will dispel darkness, save the environment and help attract tourism,” Modi said.
Modi said Ladakh has tremendous potential for solar energy and his government was committed to developing a solar energy park in the mountainous region.
With the commissioning of the two projects the NHPC generation capacity has swollen to 1959-MW.
The power projects owned by the Corporation in J&K include 390-MW Dulhasti, 450-MW Uri-I, 790-MW Salal, 240-MW Uri-II, Nimoo Bazgoo and Chutak.
