Opposition grows to Rs 20,000 crore Ladakh–Haryana solar transmission project

The central government’s Rs 20,000 crore mega solar power project connecting Ladakh to Haryana has sparked growing opposition from environmentalists and local groups in Himachal Pradesh, who warn it could cause irreversible ecological damage in the fragile Himalayan region.

The project involves setting up a 713-km high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line from Pang in Ladakh to Kaithal in Haryana. It will pass through Lahaul Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Approved in 2023, the project is designed to evacuate 5 gigawatts (GW) of power from a proposed 13 GW solar park in Ladakh and is expected to be completed by 2029–30.

The project has drawn criticism for its potential environmental and social costs. Environmentalists argue that large-scale infrastructure in the Himalayan belt could worsen deforestation, disrupt fragile slopes, and increase the risk of landslides. They also point to cumulative damage caused by existing projects such as the four-laning of the Kiratpur–Manali highway and the planned Leh railway line.

Residents have raised concerns over land acquisition and the visual impact of high-voltage lines passing over homes, hotels, and river valleys. Environmental groups warn that the project could accelerate glacier melt and damage river ecosystems. Critics also note that Himachal Pradesh may bear the environmental burden without receiving meaningful financial gains.