Leh, Oct 10, 2024: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) chaired a meeting at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat to discuss the Design, Supply, Manufacturing, Erection, Testing and Commissioning of 15 MVA, 220/66 KV, GIS Sub-Station at Kochik in Kargil. The project’s objective is to provide grid-connected 24×7 reliable power supply to 27 villages in the Taisuru block of Kargil district.

Chief Engineer, PWD, Shri Tsewang Paljor, informed the HLG that Kochik is 80 km far from Kargil and 35 km near to 66/11 Sankoo sub-station. He also informed that the areas such as Namsuru, Taisuru, Panikhar, Yuljuk, Thulus Pursa, Kochik and Parkachik are currently being electrified through he 80 km-long 11 KV Panikhar feeder from the Sankoo substation, with low voltage level being one of the major issues due to the long distance. He further informed that the 35 km S/C 66 KV line was proposed from Sankoo Sub-station to Kochik by POWERGRID under PMDP Rural scheme and accordingly a 66/11 KV Sub-station at Kochik was proposed by Ladakh Power Development Department (LPDD) and approved in SDP 2022. However, the 66 KV line by POWERGRID was descoped due to the closure of the scheme, informed Shri Paljor.

Chief Engineer, PDD, Shri Paljor informed that the 66/11 KV Kochik Sub-station was approved under the State Sector Plan, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2025. He also informed about the feasible option of Line In-Line Out (LILO) arrangement and 220/66 KV GIS from the 220 KV Drass-Padum line traversing nearby Kochik Station of 1.5 km under which areas from Rangdum would be covered. He further informed the HLG about the advantages of the project, which is expected to cost around Rs 45 crores.

Inquiring about the utility of the project and its benefit to the maximum people residing in the area, the HLG stated that high-tension lines should not pass through the inhabited villages and no agricultural land should be affected by the project. He also stated that options must be explored to fund the project under RDSS to provide reliable power supply to the residents of Taisuru block in Kargil district.

Advisor to the HLG, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IAS; DGP Ladakh, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, IPS; Commissioner/Secretary, Dr Vasanthakumar N, IAS; Commissioner/Secretary to the HLG, Dr L Franklin, IAS; Secretary, LPDD, Shri Vikram Singh Malik, IAS; Chief Engineer, PDD, Shri Tsewang Paljor; Superintending Engineer, PDD, Shri Tundup Spalzang and other officials from LPDD were present in the meeting.