GS 3: Economy | Infrastructure: Energy

Why in News?

The Prime Minister dedicated the 220 kV Srinagar- Alusteng – Drass- Kargil – Leh Transmission System to the Nation today, a step that would ensure quality power supply to Ladakh round the year.

Srinagar- Alusteng – Drass- Kargil – Leh transmission line:

• Built at a height of around 3000-4000 meters, this approx. 335 km long transmission line has been constructed by POWERGRID.
• In this project, the four new State-of-the-Art 220/66 kV Gas Insulated Sub-stations built at Drass, Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh will help to ensure 24×7 quality power in all weather conditions.
• Funding provisions have been in the ratio of 95:05 (95% Govt. of India share and 5% J&K state share).

Significance:

• The implementation of this project was also aimed to supply power to the people of Ladakh in harsh winters and evacuation of surplus power of Kargil & Leh Hydel stations of NHPC in summers.
• It is a flagship project of Government of India, under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan for J&K ( PMRP J&K) scheme which was aimed to improve reliability & quality of power supply in Ladakh region of J&K by connecting with National Grid.
• The project will meet the power demand of Ladakh region at economical rates.
• This would give huge boost to the tourism sector and enhance socio-economic development of Ladakh.

Powergrid:

POWERGRID is one of the World’s Largest Power Transmission Utility, and has a wide network of 150,874 circuit kilometers transmission lines, with 238 Sub-stations and transformation capacity of 351,106 MVA.