Delay in Srinagar-Leh power line project led to Rs 700 cr loss: CAG

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New Delhi, August 2

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, spoke about the delay and losses in implementing the Srinagar-Leh power transmission system, undertaken by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

The CAG said that due to the delay in commissioning of the Srinagar-Leh transmission system, the hydropower stations at Chutak and Nimmo Bazgo in Ladakh operated in isolation and could not be optimally utilised as per their designed capacity, and the generation had to be curtailed. This mismatch in commissioning of generation and transmission projects consequently resulted in a loss of 1,602 million units of electricity generation and undue financial burden of Rs 700 crore.

The Chutak and Nimmo Bazgo power stations were commissioned in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively. The 220 kV transmission line between Srinagar and Leh was completed in 2019. It was in January 2014 that the Central Government had approved construction of this transmission system.

The planning of transmission system without considering prospective load of the Srinagar-Leh transmission line was envisaged in 2004 for 224 MW. The Planning Commission had in 2012 stated that such projected load was not realistic.

The CAG also said there was a mismatch of Srinagar-Leh transmission system with downstream network.

Four gas insulated substations (220/66 kV each) in Drass, Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh were to be interconnected with the transmission. The interconnection was completed for Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh, but the receiving substation was not made in Drass.

Power generation loss

• According to the CAG, due to the delay in the commissioning of the Srinagar-Leh power transmission system, hydropower stations at Chutak and Nimmo Bazgo couldn’t be optimally utilised.
• It resulted in a loss of 1,602 million units of electricity generation and undue financial burden of Rs 700 crore.