Arteev Sharma
Jammu: The Union Territory administration of Ladakh has set an ambitious target of connecting the strategically important Siachen Base Camp to the power grid by the end of November this year, paving the way for round-the-clock electricity supply to the high-altitude military and logistical hub.
Located at an altitude of around 12,000 feet, Siachen Base Camp serves as the gateway to the world’s highest battlefield. Authorities are expediting work on the transmission project to extend reliable electricity to the strategically sensitive area, which has largely depended on diesel-based power generation.
The initiative is part of a major push by the Ladakh administration to strengthen infrastructure in remote and border areas near Pakistan and China, with an aim to reduce dependence on diesel generators and improve both civilian amenities and operational capabilities.
The project is being implemented under the Centre’s Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), which envisages the expansion of grid-based electricity infrastructure across the Union Territory.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena recently said efforts were progressing rapidly to extend grid connectivity to Siachen by November.
“We are making efforts to produce more hydro power in Ladakh. A large area of Ladakh is still relies on diesel-based generation of electricity. We are hopeful of taking electricity to Siachen by this November. Our efforts are in progress and we are moving very fast in this direction,” revealed Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena in an event recently.
He further said there was a huge potential of solar energy in Ladakh and they were exploring innovative ways to harness solar power. “We are creating a green wall along the 43-Km-long Igoo-Phey irrigation canal (located on the left bank of the Indus River) where we are planning to install vertical solar panels to generate electricity. We are trying to get maximum benefit out of it,” he said.
Earlier, the administration had announced September 2026 as the target for completing transmission projects aimed at extending grid-based electricity to strategically sensitive and remote areas near the borders with Pakistan and China.
Pertinently, the transmission projects are designed to provide uninterrupted power supply while significantly reducing dependence on diesel-based generation. Once completed, six of Ladakh’s seven districts are expected to be connected to the power grid, with Changthang remaining outside the network.
The key components include a 189-km-long 220 kV transmission line from Drass to Padum and a 79-km-long 220 kV line from Phyang to Disket, with a combined estimated cost of around Rs 1,925 crore.
The planned network will extend grid connectivity to remote regions, including Zanskar and Nubra, while Siachen Base Camp is also expected to benefit from round-the-clock electricity supply.
Officials said four substations were being established in Zanskar to ensure last-mile connectivity. Additional substations at Siachen Base Camp and Partapur would facilitate power distribution across the Nubra region.
Besides improving the reliability of electricity supply in remote settlements and strategically important locations, the projects are expected to reduce fuel transportation requirements and emissions associated with diesel generators, supporting the broader objective of making Ladakh carbon-neutral.
