PHE workers protest, demand regularisation

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 1

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA) have been conferred national awards for contributing to the national effort for implementing concentrated solar technology (CST) systems.

The awards were conferred during the national workshop-cum-award function for CST systems organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Fund (GEF).

The award function was held on April 29 and awardees included state nodal agencies of the MNRE, entrepreneurs in the solar thermal sector and manufacturers.

Sonam Dawa Lonpo, chairman, LAHDC, Leh, received the UNDP-GEF award from Piyush Goyal, Minister for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, for contributing to national CST installations.

The LREDA was represented by project director Jigmet Takpa, senior project engineers Stanzin Choster, Arif Kakpori, Kunzes Dolma and Reuben Gergan and beneficiaries of greenhouses.

The LREDA secured the second position in special category states in having the highest number of CST installations and third position in having the largest square metre area of CST installations. On behalf of the LREDA, Takpa and Choster received the UNDP-GEF awards from the Union minister.

Appreciation of effective implementation awards were received from the minister by Dolma and beneficiaries for the installation of 2,500 domestic greenhouses and 250 commercial greenhouses in Leh.

India ranks first for the use of CST systems. The LAHDC, Leh, and LREDA have played a significant role in the addition of solar thermal capacity, especially in the cold climate regions, with a sizeable increase in the utilisation of solar thermal applications.

The LAHDC has been promoting the use of CST systems in its residential schools for cooking applications, which is envisaged to save residential schools over 500 LPG cylinders annually. In addition, several private residential schools in the Leh district have taken up CST systems for cooking.

In addition, over 17,000 square metres of solar water heating systems, distribution of over 2,000 solar dish cookers and greenhouse installations have been significant in the promotion of solar thermal systems.