Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 26: In what could be termed as a big leap towards reducing burden on exchequer and preventing highly fragile environment from pollution, the 45-Mega Watt Alchi/Nimoo Bazgo Hydel Project and solar power plants have helped in saving over Rs 13 crore worth diesel in Leh district during the past one and half year. In order to further reduce dependence on the diesel, Army, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been approached for using electricity being generated by the project.
According to the official figures, out of 112 villages in the Leh district, 91 are presently electrified through different means of energy. Of the 91 electrified villages, 60 are getting power supply from the Nimoo Bazgo Hydel Project and this number will go up to 89 by December ending when two more Sub-Stations of the project at Khaltsi and Hemia will be ready. The present 60 villages are getting electricity supply from four Sub-Stations at Leh, Kharu, Neemu and Alchi.
“With the increase in number of villages getting electricity supply from this project, the dependence on the Diesel Generators is reducing considerably”, sources said, adding “even the solar power plants are becoming alternate source of energy in the areas connected with the Nimoo Bazgo project”.
Stating that only one turbine of 15 Mega Watt is presently being put to use and remaining two are lying idle for want of sufficient load, sources said, “even one turbine has immensely helped in terms of reducing burden on the exchequer on account of running Diesel Generators and reducing adverse impact of diesel, which on burning releases dangerous levels of green house gases, on the fragile environment of Leh”.
In response to a question, they said that during the past one and half year hydel and solar power has helped in saving 2645000 litres of diesel worth over Rs 13 crore and this figure will go up considerably following connectivity of 29 more villages with the Nimoo Bazgo project by the end of current year.
“Since Army, ITBP and IAF installations are major consumers of diesel for electrification purpose, the district administration has approached them for taking power from Nimoo Bazgo project in order to further reduce the dependence on diesel”, they said.
“This has also become imperative as entire civilian load is around 7-8 Mega Watts and putting less than the capacity load on the turbine would amount to putting it to grave risk of developing snag”, they further said while disclosing that in the recent past the operational turbine developed some cracks and caused Rs 5 crore loss to the NHPC authorities.
Responding to another question, sources said, “the turbines which are presently lying idle would be put to use only when the Leh gets transmission line connectivity with the Srinagar for which the project has already been sanctioned by the Union Government although work has yet not been started”.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Simrandeep Singh confirmed that Nimoo Bazgo project has reduced dependence on Diesel Generators and presently 60 villages are getting hydel power and 29 more villages will be connected with the project by December ending.
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