Ladakh, also known as “the Land of Passes‟ (La-passes, dakh-land), is situated within the upper reaches of the Indus watershed. It is an area of abundant natural resources. The government of India, recognising this strategic as well as the significant location of Ladakh, is aggressively working to make proper use of its resources.
To iterate and deliberate on the possibilities of renewable energy sources in Ladakh, the first conference of the Agni campaign was organised in Leh on 8 October 2022 on the theme of Sustainability and Culture.
It witnessed participation from key stakeholders working in the areas of energy, culture, and sustainability, from diverse fields such as administration, policymakers, academics, and start-ups.
It was inaugurated by R K Mathur, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
Decentralized Renewable Solar Power across Ladakh
Ladakh, for generations, has followed a sustainable lifestyle. “Due to increased modernisation, the region has faced an imbalance in the ecosystem of the region, that not only adversely impacts Ladakh but also alters the monsoon cycle of the entire country since it is inter-linked with the Himalayan ecosystem,” the Governor stated during the conference.
He further added that the UT administration of Ladakh has laid out a clear roadmap to reverse this imbalance and move toward sustainable development.
Key areas of Renewable Development in Ladakh;
PM Modi envisioned a Carbon Neutral Ladakh, for which the Central government is mapping out strategies that could harness renewable energy in the region.
“With its immense solar energy potential, Ladakh should work towards generating systems to provide power to remote areas,” the Governor suggested in his address. Therefore, in order to reduce grid dependency, the government is focussing to provide decentralized renewable solar power across Ladakh.
Another major focus area of the region is its “Geothermal energy.” Unlike other renewable energy sources, which are intermittent in nature, it is available throughout the day and the year and could be suitably harnessed.
Green Hydrogen is another option in Ladakh, as the region has plenty of solar energy and water. The Hydrogen harnessed from this could be used to substitute petrol and diesel and the oxygen could be used in hospitals and by tourists.
Agni Tattva campaign – Energy for LiFE
Under the umbrella campaign of Sumangalam, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh, launched the Agni Tattva campaign – Energy for LiFE in New Delhi on 21st September 2022. Subsequently, a series of seminars spanning the length and breadth of the country have been planned as a part of the campaign.
Power Foundation of India in association with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) is currently running a campaign to create awareness on Agni Tattva under LiFE – Lifestyle for the environment.
The campaign includes conferences, seminars, events, and exhibitions across the country involving educational institutions, communities, and relevant organisations to create awareness of the core concept of Agni Tattva, an element that is synonymous with energy and is amongst the five elements of Panchmahabhoot.
WhatsApp us