Ladakh’s unique geography makes the union territory home to one of the highest amounts of solar radiation in the country, with a huge potential of harnessing solar energy. The region has always stood up as the epicentre of sustainable development in the entire country, and after the union government envisioned the Carbon Neutral Ladakh in its Vision 2047, the administration has been striving tirelessly to achieve the same, ever since the reorganisation of the region into a Union Territory.
India takes great pride in telling the world that Carbon neutrality for Ladakh is not a mitigation goal, but a development vision, which should be achieved through a ‘Citizen Movement’. The UT administration has taken it upon itself, as it embedded Carbon Neutrality in every department’s vision and action plan, to lead people by example.
The UT Administration is striving to minimise the carbon footprints in new developmental projects and striving to find solutions for existing projects. Solar Water lifting, solar street lighting, winter friendly solar passive buildings, geo-thermal energy for space heating and introduction of E-buses and cars are some of the significant steps already taken in this direction. Renewable energy sources are being tapped and Solar Power Projects, Geothermal power projects, Hydel projects are being set up while DG sets are being phased out.
The major achievements of the Ladakh administration over the past three years include:
- Preparation of Vision 2047 document with technical support of NITI Aayog with overarching objective of achieving carbon neutrality, and its implementation
- Successful irrigation of Lato village through solar water pump with a lifting capacity of 160 metres, as a pilot project, following which such a system was installed at 45 villages so far.
- Geo-Thermal space heating taken up for upcoming Old Age Home at Kargil and Faculty and Dormitory Block at University of Ladakh
- 5 GW solar power project coming up at Pang, 100 Megawatt Geo Thermal Field Development pilot project coming up at Puga
- e-Buses procured for University and Colleges while e-Bus services for public transport & tourist also started on pilot basis.
- The vehicles for UT Administration officials replaced with e-Cars in October 2022
- 30 Lakh saplings planted in Chushul and 25,000 in Kargil division on World Environment Day
- 19 DG sets of 1345 KVA capacity, phased out in 2021 and 5 DG sets of 810 KVA capacity, phased out in 2022
- Ladakh awarded for achieving second highest small hydro power installed capacity as on March 31, 2022
- Green Hydrogen Projects with NTPC and NHPC commenced, 1760 solar lights installed
- 100 Solar submersible pumps with discharge capacities of 340-1300 LPM procured and 46 Solar Pumps have been installed
- 31 villages electrified with Grid connectivity, Solar water heater saturation scheme started
- Tripartite MOU Signed between ONGC, UT Administration & LAHDC for the first Geo- Thermal Field development Project
- MODI (Mission Organic Development Initiative) & Winter Green House Projects launched, 550 Polycarbonate Greenhouses set up in 2 years, so far
- Introduction of winter grade BS-VI Diesel, that remains unfrozen at minus 33 degree Celsius, resulting in easy & early start of engine and low carbon emersion
