A meeting regarding proposed pilot projects of ONGC on geothermal energy in Leh district was chaired by Deputy Chairman LAHDC, Leh Tsering Angchuk with the team of ONGC headed by Deepak Kumar, DGM Energy, and Uday Shankar, Chief General Manager, ONGC Energy Sector on December 12 at Council Secretariat.

Chairman/CEC LAHDC, Leh, Tashi Gyalson, and MP Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal virtually attended the meeting from Delhi.
  
 SE PDD, Leh, Tsewang Paljor; OSD to Secretary Renewable Energy, UT Ladakh, Dr. Stanzin Thakchos; Advisor to LAHDC, Leh on Renewable energy, Kunzes Dolma and Nawang Thinles Coordinator, ONGC Leh were present in the meeting.
  
The team informed that there have been efforts made by various organizations in the exploration of geothermal energy for decades in Ladakh. The Govt. of India under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has assigned ONGC to harness geothermal energy from Puga and other potential areas of UT Ladakh for which the initial survey is going on these days. 
  
CEC Gyalson, MP JTN, and Dy. Chairman Angchuk welcomed the team of ONGC to Leh and highlighted the immense geothermal potential of Leh district. They said that if this clean energy will be tapped properly without affecting the fragile environment and ecology of Ladakh and without compromising the interest of local people, then it will be a game-changer for UT Ladakh in the power sector and other potential sectors associated with geothermal energy. 

They assured all possible support from Hill Council Leh to ONGC in harnessing geothermal energy from potential areas but asked the ONGC team to sign MoU with LAHDC, Leh involving all the stakeholders for the proposed pilot projects with clear understanding and consents of key players.

Kunzes Dolma and other concerned officers also highlighted the scope of this sustainable energy in context with Puga, Chumathang, Panamik, Demjok, etc known for geothermal repository. Also, they suggested their ideas to ensure sustainability and eco-friendly ONGC’s pilot project is implemented in the future.