Leh, Jan 9: Union New and Renewal Energy Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today reviewed the implementation of Ladakh Renewal Energy Project, a special central project for Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region under Jawahar Nehru Solar Mission. Sanctioned in 2009-10, the aim of the Rs 473 crore project is to promote renewal energy to meet the power requirements of Ladakh.
 Dr Farooq Abdullah said the project will prove a boon for the power deficient Ladakh region and stressed the need for prompt implementation on this project within the timeframe.
 Union Minister said under the scheme 23 mini hydro projects are coming up under three clusters. He said the survey and investigation of  eight mini hydro projects in Shayok belt, seven in Siachen belt, five in Durbuk  Block  and one each in Chilling and Sumdha villages of Leh block have been completed and the preparation for Detailed  Project Report (DPR) of these hydro projects is in progress.
 Dr. Abdullah said that the Solar Photo Voltak Power Plant each in six blocks of the district and a total of 126 solar power plants with capacity of 1.2 Megawatt will be established in different villages and some places of defence establishments in the region.
 Under the project, 4500 dish cookers, solar pumps with 1kw to7 kw and PICO Hydro Sets will also be distributed among the individuals, farmers and organisations. Solar Stream Cooker and Wind Solar Hybrids will also be installed at some places on trial basis.
 Later, Dr Farooq Abdullah visited the Solar Colony at Choglamsar, where the August 2010 cloud burst affected people of Zanak Maney are being rehabilitated, and enquired them about the availability of ration, power and water supply. The minister took stock of rehabilitation of the Cloudbrust victims.
 During his one-day visit, the Union Minister also inspected the SNM Hospital , Leh which was badly damaged in the cloud burst and went round different wards of the hospital and enquired the patients about the medicare being provided in the hospital.
 SNM Hospital, Leh Medical Superintendent, Leh Dr P Tsering informed that eighty percent of the medical equipments have so far been restored and CT Scan is under procurement process.
 Talking to media persons, Dr. Abdullah said that main objective of his visit was to review the progress of Jawahar Nehru Solar Mission and rehabilitation of cloud burst affected people. He also lauded the district administration and LAHDC, Leh for timely and efficiently carrying out the rehabilitation of affected people before the severe winter and restoration of SNM Hospital in the shortest possible time.
 In reply to a question Dr Abdullah said he has taken the matter of  Kargil air service with  Kingfisher and will hope the airline will run services between Kargil to Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST