New Delhi, Sep 21 (FN Agency) The Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) handed over critical high-altitude induction and sustenance technologies to the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) during an orientation workshop at PGCIL’s regional headquarters in Jammu on Saturday. The technologies transferred by DIPAS, a leading laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will support PGCIL in the high-altitude sustenance of its workforce during the project. The workshop was organised to prepare employees for high-altitude operations as part of the 5000 MW Pang-Kaithal High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project in Ladakh, an official statement said.The Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project, located at an altitude of 15,760 feet, is a significant step towards energy security in the region of Ladakh and the wider integration of solar power into India’s national grid.
Earlier, DRDO signed a MoU with PGCIL to provide technical knowledge on high-altitude induction and sustenance. DIPAS, known for its pioneering work in high-altitude research, has previously formulated acclimatisation protocols for the Indian Army in the Himalayan region. The laboratory has developed a range of solutions for high-altitude conditions, including nutritional ration scales, protective clothing, non-conventional energy-based shelters, and cold-injury prevention creams.Director of DIPAS Rajeev Varshney chaired the induction programme, alongside Chief General Manager Amit Sharma (i/c) of the Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project, PGCIL. Senior scientists from DRDO and officials from PGCIL were present at the workshop. Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, Samir V Kamat, congratulated the DIPAS team for their collaboration with PGCIL on this project of national importance.