L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena Approves 500 kW Solar Plant At Leh Ice Hockey Rink

15 May 2026 CW Team

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the installation of a 500-kilowatt (kW) Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) plant on the rooftop of the NDS Ice Hockey Rink in Leh, signalling a step towards integrating renewable energy with sporting infrastructure. The rooftop SPV plant will be developed under the Special Development Package of the Youth Services and Sports Department, Union Territory of Ladakh, and is estimated to cost Rs 23.8 million (mn). Authorities described the project as a model for integrating clean energy into public infrastructure across the Union Territory.

The administration indicated that the facility is expected to significantly reduce electricity consumption costs at the ice hockey venue while promoting energy efficiency and environmental protection. Project planning emphasised the need for climate-responsive infrastructure in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region. The initiative forms part of a broader vision to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Officials noted that harnessing the region's abundant sunlight would contribute to reducing carbon emissions and support efforts for Ladakh to emerge as a carbon-neutral region. The plant will also complement ongoing measures to develop modern, sustainable infrastructure tailored to local conditions. Implementation will proceed under the guidance of the Lieutenant Governor and the UT administration.

The NDS Ice Hockey Rink has hosted the Khelo India Winter Games for three consecutive years and has become a major venue for national-level winter sporting events. Administrators said there are plans to make the facility operational around the year and that the rooftop solar installation will strengthen the venue's sustainability credentials. The project is expected to inform future renewable energy integration across sporting and public facilities in the Union Territory.

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