Why in News? PM Modi recently dedicated the 220 kV Srinagar- Alusteng – Drass- Kargil – Leh Transmission Line to the Nation. With this, Ladakh is now connected to the National Grid.

The project has been completed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Navratna Company of Government of India, under Ministry of Power.

Benefits of this project: It will result in minimizing the massive use of diesel generating sets during winters, and thus will help in protection of beautiful environment, of pristine Ladakh region. This would also give huge boost to the tourism sector and enhance socio-economic development of Ladakh.

What is National Grid?

It is the high-voltage electric power transmission network in mainland India, connecting power stations and major substations and ensuring that electricity generated anywhere in mainland India can be used to satisfy demand elsewhere.

• The National Grid is owned, operated, and maintained by state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India.
• It is one of the largest operational synchronous grids in the world with 307.8 GW of installed power generation capacity.
• The union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are not connected to the National Grid.

Benefits of a National Grid:

• Better availability resulting in lesser power cuts.
• More stability in power.

Cross border transmission links:

Presently, India is importing electricity from Bhutan with synchronous transmission links while exporting power to Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar with asynchronous transmission links between the National Grid, and the electricity grids of these countries.