Cabinet clears Rs 207.73 bn for Ladakh power transmission

The Union Cabinet had approved a budget of Rs 207.73 billion for establishing a transmission line aimed at evacuating power from a 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh. The initiative was initially unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address, where he outlined plans for a 7.5 GW Solar Park in Ladakh. Following an extensive field survey, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) devised a comprehensive plan for constructing a 13 GW Renewable Energy (RE) generation capacity in addition to a 12 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Pang, Ladakh. According to an official release, the vast amount of power generated necessitates the establishment of an inter-state transmission infrastructure. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) subsequently sanctioned the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II project, which involves the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for the 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh. The transmission line designed for this purpose will traverse through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, terminating in Kaithal, Haryana, where it will be seamlessly integrated into the National Grid. It was outlined that the project is scheduled to be operational by the financial year 2029-30, with an estimated cost of Rs 207.73 billion. Additionally, the central government will extend 40% financial assistance, amounting to Rs 83.09 billion, to facilitate the endeavour.