To harness 10,000 MW geothermal energy, a joint Indo-Norwegian team inspected Tatta Pani hot water springs and proposed to the government with its action plan.
Indo-Norwegian team proposed that Tatta Pani, Manikaran and Vashisht, Puga and Chuma-Thang in Ladakh can be developed as geothermal tourist destinations if these natural sources of energy are tapped properly. The team says this natural source of geothermal energy is facing depletion if it is not saved and relocated at Tatta Pani town.
The hot water springs will be submerged in the 800 MW Kol Dam project, being executed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) on the Sutlej.
Though the NTPC claims that it has relocated the hot water springs at a higher elevation at Tatta Pani town, the team found that it needs a proper geological study and a fresh initiative to relocate the geothermal energy.
Dr Ritesh Arya, coordinator of the Indo-Norwegian joint venture who is also a renowned geologist known for the boring the highest tube well in the world in Ladakh and for it his name is placed in prestigious Guinness Book of World Records, said
“The hot water springs at Tata Pani have not been suitably relocated and tapped. The source can be used for space heating and hot baths. Tata Pani can emerge as a geothermal tourist destination.”
