Leh (Jammu), Sept 25: The Central government has given its technical sanction for setting up of a Rs 300 crore Alchi Hydel Project in Leh district of Ladakh frontier region in J&K, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said. "The project, estimated to generate 45 mw power, is expected to be commissioned by 2008," he told after his visit to various power projects in Leh yesterday.
He said the state has already approached the Centre for providing funds for the project.
Sharma, currently on a four-day tour to Ladakh region, said that another 3 mw hydel project at Martselang, involving Rs 34 crore, would be commissioned next year.
He said rs 23 crore had already been spent on the project so far.
Sharma, who also reviewed the present power situation in Ladakh at a high level meeting, stressed at accelerating work on various projects under execution in the district to meet the growing power demand in the area.
The coalition government has taken up the stupendous task of tapping the hydro potential by involving private sector, he said adding had this initiative been taken by earlier governments, the situation in power sector would have been entirely different.
He said the government has identified various streams and rivers in Ladakh area -- including river Sindh, Shayok and rivulets like Dha, Hanu, Dhomkher, Bogdang, Sasoma and Kumdok -- for setting up hydel projects.
Once these projects are taken up, Ladakh would become surplus in power generation, he said.
Bureau Report