Rebel Sumdho and Sumdho TR have got wired electricity. That’s how Ladakh is changing

Leh: When the target audience is just 70 households, the traditional politicians barely like to waste time but Nyoma life has literally brightened up.

Rebel Sumdho and Sumdho TR, two Tibetan settlements of around 70 households in faraway Nyoma block of Leh district, has a small ray of hope by way of small solar power plant. The long ignored villages have now got the wired electricity.

These two are among several staggered villages of the vast plateau which are now getting focused attention after Ladakh became a Union Territory. As part of a conflict intensive state, the inaccessible regions of Ladakh were hardly reached out to for developmental purposes.
On the joyous occasion of Christmas and an early Losar gift, the Power Development Department (PDD), Ladakh, has done a commendable job of providing 24X7 electricity to the largest Tibetan settlement — Rebal Sumdho and Sumdho TR in Nyoma block of Leh district under the centrally sponsored scheme Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).

As of December 25, the residents of the two remote villages have been successfully connected to the National Grid. Other villages connected under DDUGJY scheme in Leh district are Chilling Sumdha (Aezang, Sumdha Chun & Chilling), Kumgyam, Wanla, Fotoksar, Shara, SAGY Line (Achinathang & Hanuthang), Teri, Youlchung, Harhipti and Skumarkha.

Located between Nyoma and Tsokar Lake, Rebal Sumdho and Sumdho TR is home to more than 70 households. Earlier the households were electrified through a small solar SPV power plant however, the DDUGJY scheme has now connected the villages with Northern Grid to better serve the community. Additionally, the project was executed in the deep-freezing temperature of the cold desert by the Team of TKC TATA Projects and PGCIL (PIA).

The Local residents described electricity as a basic requirement and emphasised the right to have access to it. Further, residents said the provision of electricity will bring economic development and also help improve the livelihood of people. With the access of electricity 24×7 from Grid, the local children will also be able to access Teleclasses and even study at night, something they weren’t able to do before. For many associated with the dairy industry electricity will provide the option of a refrigeration system and help lessen their losses.