Ladakh’s 13 GW Renewable Push Clears Key Hurdle as ESIA, DPR Completed: Govt | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Government of India (GoI) on Wednesday said the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed 13 GW renewable energy projects in Ladakh have been completed.

Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, said that the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) is the implementing agency for these projects.

The minister said the ESIA reports have been shared with the Union Territory administration of Ladakh and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for review. The projects are being executed under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO)/developer mode.

The minister further said that key studies, including aerial drone/UAV-based topographic surveys, soil investigations, and resource assessment studies, have also been completed.

He, however, clarified that these studies, which include data on wildlife surveys, land use maps, grazing assessments, hydrology baselines, and topographical details, are currently not available in the public domain.

“The dissemination of such information is governed by considerations of project confidentiality, competitive bidding processes and data sensitivity,” the minister said, adding that relevant information is shared with prospective bidders during the tendering process to facilitate informed decision-making.(KNO)