Srinagar-Leh Transmission Line all set to benefit State immensely
Addl 60 MW power to be available in J&K during summer
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 3: With the commissioning of Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-Leh Transmission Line by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, two main projects of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in Ladakh region will start generating power up to their full capacity for the first time and make available additional 60 Mega Watts of electricity in the State during the summer season.
The foundation stone of the transmission line was laid by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 12, 2014 and within 4-5 years the project has been completed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).
About 335 kilometres long transmission line at a height of about 4000 metres has been built in snow bound and difficult hilly terrain to connect Ladakh region with the National Grid. Four new 220/66 KV Gas Insulated Sub-Stations have been constructed at Drass, Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh as part of this project.
This transmission line is not only going to ensure 24-hour electricity to the cold desert region in all weather conditions but will also help two main projects of NHPC—45 Mega Watts Nimoo Bazgo on Indus River in Leh and 44 Mega Watts Chutak on Suru River in Kargil to generate electricity up to their full capacity for the first time ever since their commissioning.
Though these two power projects were commissioned around six years back yet NHPC was finding it difficult to generate power up to the full capacity in view of limited grid-connected requirement of the Ladakh region and lack of facility for evacuation of surplus power, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Despite availability of sufficient discharge in Indus River during summer, Nimoo Bazgo project was till now generating only 25 Mega Watts of electricity against total installed capacity of 45 Mega Watts. There were two main reasons behind low generation—-first limited grid connected requirement of Leh and lack of facility for evacuation of surplus power, said General Manager of the Nimoo Bazgo project when contacted.
“Now, with the connectivity of project with the Northern Grid we will be able to generate full 45 Mega Watts of electricity during summer. Moreover, efforts will be made to provide grid connected power to left-over areas of the Leh district”, he said in response to a question.
In reply to another question, he said that during winter when project will generate limited power owing to less discharge in the river the Srinagar-Leh Transmission Line will help in meeting the electricity requirement of the district.
Similarly, the 44 Mega Watts Chutak Project was generating only 10-15 Mega Watts of electricity during summer because of limited grid-connected requirement of Kargil district and lack of facility for evacuation of surplus power. Other areas of the district are provided electricity through isolated mode like small projects and solar plants.
“Now, we will start generating full capacity power to evacuate the surplus electricity to the Northern Grid through the Srinagar-Leh Transmission Line”, said General Manager of Chutak Power Project, adding “this line has also paved the way for providing grid-connectivity power to left over areas of the district”.
In this way, Srinagar-Leh Transmission Line will ensure 24-hour electricity in all weather conditions to both the district besides helping in making available around 60 Mega Watts of additional power for the State during summer season.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nimoo Bazgo has been designed to generate 239.33 million units in a 90% dependable year with 95% machine availability. The three units of the project were commissioned in June 2013, January 2013 and October 2013 respectively.
The Chutak power station has been designed to generate 212.93 million units in a 90% dependable year with 95% machine availability. The three units of the project were commissioned in November 2012 and January 2013 respectively.
The State of J&K is the sole beneficiary of these power stations.
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