Ladakh: Power potential of twin districts of Leh & Kargil Analyzing geo-scientific studies
Srinagar, July 8 -- Historically, the region of Ladakh included the Baltistan (Baltiyul) valleys, the Indus Valley, the remote Zanskar, Lahaul and Spiti to the south, Aksai Chin and Ngari, including the Rudok region and Guge, in the east, and the Nobra valleys to the north. However contemporary Ladakh borders Tibet to the east, the Lahaul and Spiti to the south, the Vale of Kashmir, Jammu and Baltiyul regions to the west, and the trans-Kunlun territory of Xingjian to the far north. Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture. It is sometimes called "Little Tibet" as it has been strongly influenced by Tibetan culture. In the year 1834, the Dogras under Zorawar Singh, a general of Gulab Singh invaded and annexed Ladakh. A Ladakhi rebellion in 1842 was crushed and Ladakh was incorporated into the Dogra state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ever since those times, it has stayed as a part of Jammu and Kashmir State. Ladakh was earlier a single district; it has been converted to twin districts of Leh and Kargil. Lately Leh and Kargil are governed by hill councils to smoothen administration.
In the past Ladakh gained importance from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes, but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and Central Asia in the 1960s, international trade has dwindled. Tourism however has become a thriving industry since 1974, the year Government threw open Ladakh to tourism. Since Ladakh is a part of strategically important Jammu and Kashmir State, hence the Indian Army maintains a strong presence in the region. The twin districts as per latest surveys by geo-scientists and hydro-electric experts have shown a vast power potential. It is much more than needed by the districts. And it could be tapped and harnessed for needs of the state. Jalal-ud-Din Shah, a geo-scientist with his study of the power potential of the region provides useful leads, worth having a look at.
In Ladakh area, huge hydro potential is available for generations due to grade and discharge in the river. In the earlier periods of time due to non-accessibility of the area, only a soft project like Stakna Hydel Project was commissioned in the year 1980, giving round about 4.5 Mega Watt Power in peak period to Leh Town. Later Power Development Department [PDD] through National Hydroelectric Power Corporation [NHPC] had taken up Nemu-Bazgo power project by utilizing water of Zanskar River approximate to its confluence with main Indus River near Nemu Village. This Scheme is near Completion and is apt to generate 45 Mega watts of Electricity, enough for entire Ladakh Area. Upstream of Stakna and downstream of Bazgo, quite a number of schemes are under consideration of the department which includes some micro schemes near Dha, Hanu, and Shakarchiktan etc. Most of these Schemes are under construction in fact near completion. On the main Indus, by construction of low dams or Run of the river schemes, river Sindh can be tamed and developed into multistage power projects by utilizing steep gradient and perennial flow of the water. These schemes are--Nele Topa Power Scheme from Nemu Downstream up to Sespool.
Other scheme is proposed between villages Trespoon to Khalsi by the way of construction of a low dam. Then the river taken a hair pin bend towards eastern side. On this river two schemes have been proposed, out of which one is on Main River Dumkhar. Here also, a low dam is proposed which will be a scheme of immense generation. Finally, from Dumkhar onwards up to Batalik, a power scheme is proposed near village Sunit by the way of construction of a Dam. Similarly, in Nobra Area, micro power house is already commissioned which is quite enough for the local and defense use.
There is also, a micro Power house in Upshe to karo Belt, already in the advance stage of construction, which is utilizing the waters of main River Indus as well. Moreover, Micro Hydel Schemes in remote areas like Puga, Dumkhar and Dhamchuk are already under active consideration out of which Dumkhar Scheme is already under construction. In addition to this, Bazgo is already in operational stage and catering to the local requirement to certain extent. Impact of the restrictions imposed by Indus Water Treaty, if any, to the water resources of Jammu and Kashmir seem to be none in Ladakh area as there is enough potential available which can be generated on the run of the river basis and construction of small reservoirs, if necessary. The geo-scientific survey of Indus and Zanskar River beds and the various tributaries could provide the ideal breeding ground for the development of the region.
Kargil district is separated from Kashmir Valley by Zogilla mountainous range, which has a peak about 12,000 feet above sea level. The road from the Valley to Kargil District and thence to Ladakh remains closed during winter months...November to April. The vast power potential of the twin districts evident in geo-scientific and hydro-electric surveys is much more than needed by the districts. And it could be tapped and harnessed for needs of the state. There are problems though, like that of transmission due to tough mountainous barriers.
Ladakh is scarcely populated; hence its requirement of electricity is low. If transmission of power from Dras to Kashmir becomes a reality by way of construction of a tunnel across Zogilla, vast potential of these twin districts can be developed up to the optimum. The Zogilla tunnel as per experts is being explored. Two main rivers with very good discharge flow through Kargil and Leh areas along with huge number of tributaries. As per a geo-scientific expert...Jalal-ud-Din Shah, Suro River in Kargil flows through steep gradient all along its course, thus has a potential for electricity generation. Out of it, a few schemes are under active consideration and initial stage of construction as well. One micro power house on Main River is already under execution which is Iqbal micro Hydel scheme supplying electricity to Kargil town.
A power scheme namely Chutak near Marpochu is under advanced stage of construction by NHPC which can prove more than enough for entire area in coming years as well. It has a capacity to generate 44 Mega watt of power as run of the river Scheme. There are other proposals on board, such as Panighar-Sanku scheme along the left bank of the river Suro, it will also help in the generation of sizeable power. This scheme if augmented by waters of Dras River, through a tunnel near Dhan-Dhal village up to Chutak, can have immense potential. Such a scheme was proposed earlier...a Panighar-Parkhachak scheme tapping a loop of 22km in main Suro River by construction of 1 km tunnel with its head works near Panighar and power house near Parkhachak Village. However, this Scheme could not be continued by the department due to lack of technical know about the behavior of glacier (Nun and Kun) opposite to main intake portal of the Tunnel, notes Jalal-ud-Din Shah-the geo-scientist.
The geo-scientist also makes a note of Potential of Dras Nalla and its Tributaries. There is a micro Scheme already at Mattayan village, which supplies to local area. Dras Nalla which has a sizeable good discharge in summer could be utilized properly through construction of low dams at three favorable sites. These sites are near Beras village, which with a tunnel can generate 30 to 40 Mega Watt of Power, another near Dhan-Dhal Village, another dam is spotted for construction of a power project which would impound waters of Dras and Mattayan Nalla jointly. A tunnel from the tail-waters of this dam can be carried to Sanku Scheme discussed above. Further downstream, a Dam location within the permissible limits of IWT is available at the confluence of Dras and Shingu Nalla, which can generate electricity more than what could be generated from all the other schemes of this river jointly. Then there is a Dam site at Shingu Nalla and diversion through a tunnel up to Zogilla (Nilgrath) that could be developed further.
Ladakh is potentially a vital area of the state and both its districts should be made self-sufficient in every sense. Hydro-electrical power potential could be fully utilized, so as to give a huge boost to its tourist potential. Ladakh is in addition a gateway to Central Asian regions, a highly important station on the silk route. These routes need to be opened to make Ladakh realize its full potential. And developing hydro-electrical potential to its optimum level could provide a big boost to the economy of the region. The geo-scientific survey of Suru and Dras River beds and the various tributaries could provide the ideal breeding ground for the development of the region. The study on hand needs to be taken further.
The twin district needs to be adequately compensated by developmental projects, especially in educational and health sector. State should pay back to twin districts in adequate measure, whatever it takes out of hydro-electrical projects in the region to fulfill the energy requirements of J&K State. Fulfilling the requirements of the state could only be made possible by overcoming transmission problems. These problems need to be accorded top priority.
