A project of Rs 473 crore for promotion of use of renewable energy in Ladakh was approved by the cabinet committee on infrastructure on Friday, a press release from the ministry of new and renewable energy said.

Thirty small/ micro hydel projects, having a total capacity of 23.5 MW, are a part of the plan. About 300 solar photo voltaic (SPV) power plants of 5 - 100 KW capacity, 2,000 SPV home lighting systems are also included in the plan. As many as 40,000 solar thermal systems such as water heating, solar cookers, solar passive buildings, solar green house etc. will also come up. The solar greenhouses proposed to be set up in the region would help in increasing the production of green vegetables in winters for the region, which are otherwise procured from far off places. 

The release says that the plan was prepared after detailed studies were undertaken in Leh and Kargil districts of the region and after consultations with all the stakeholders like defence officials, Ladakh councils in Leh and Kargil, districts officials, NGOs etc.

The implementation of the plan will start from June, 2010 and will be completed by December, 2013.

The renewable energy projects are expected to result in a saving of about 200 lakh liters of diesel per year. 

Farooq Abdullah, the minister for new & renewable energy will visit Jammu and Kashmir next month to hold discussions with the chief minister for a speedy implementation of the plan.