Compared to developmental standards in Chinese region across the border with what is obtaining in Ladakh, we find a wide gap which may or may not be filled at any point of time. In particular, speaking about local power generation and distribution system, entire Ladakh region, including Kargil, presents a sordid picture. Taking into account the topography and thin population distribution in Ladakh region and the availability of water for building small hydroelectric power generating units to cater to the needs of small villages with three or four thousand homesteads, it should have been possible to provide them perennial power supply and thus bring revolution in their lives. But far from it, the region is faced with dismal dysfunctional power projects with the main deficiency lying in lack of proper distribution system. Just installing a couple of generators and then claiming that such and such a number of homesteads would get electricity is a fallacy not behooving a democratically elected Government.
The report of the Committee on Public Undertaking has painted a deeply distressing picture of almost all the small power generating project in Ladakh and Kargil. The machines are 20 to 30 years old; they are obsolete and out of order; their spare parts are no more available in the market; distribution system is lacking and money invested in generating power goes waste; there is lack of adequate technical and non technical staff to run the power stations properly; there is non accountability as nobody asks nobody why there are shut downs — these are the woes of power generation and supply in Ladakh region. From the report one can glean that no considered technical advice has gone into the making of these small power generating units in Ladakh region. Why and how did that happen, needs to be probed into? The simplest matter which even a layman can understand is that the nullahs that bring water generally get silted and the silt has to be cleared at regular intervals and under proper programme to allow the flow of water without any obstruction and thus maintain the supply of electric power. There seems to be no arrangements for de-silting of the stream that brings water to the powerhouse for generating electricity.
The impression that one gets from the report of the Committee on Public Undertakings is that nobody in the administrative hierarchy is really caring for Ladakh and Kargil, the farthest northern and north-eastern regions of the State and the country. Though we have the Department for Ladakh Affairs, but we do not find much footprints of the Departmental authorities making a bid for larger and more productive developmental schemes being envisaged for Ladakh as a matter of priority. To neglect the area just because it is far away from the centre of power is blatant discrimination. In fact keeping in mind the strategic importance of the region, it should be first and foremost to attract the attention of authorities. There has been a great deal of talk about conditions being conducive to the development of solar energy in Ladakh. Except for small effort of providing street lights to Leh city, there has not been any expansion worth the name in this area in Ladakh. Recently, the Union Minister in charge of Solar and Renewable Energy optimistically announced that the country had vast potential for solar energy which needs to be harnessed. As Minister in charge of Solar Energy we expected that at least in the case of Ladakh he would take a big step and make it a model district for harnessing solar energy. It has not happened and when can it happen, remains an enigma.
The Committee on Public Undertakings has strongly recommended handing over all Ladakh Power projects to the Hill Development Council for efficient administration and proper maintenance. The Government shouldn’t hasitate from taking such a decision if it helps to enhance efficiency in these power projects.
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