Haryana defies ban on gensets

New Delhi: The State Power Secretary of Haryana in a letter replied to Chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), Bhure Lal saying that the ban on Diesel Generator (DG) sets as directed by EPCA with a deadline of October 15 cannot be implemented and to increase the extension up to six months. If the ban on DG in the vicinity towns of

Delhi like Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bahadurgarh, Sonipat and Panipat were to take place it would have a massive impact on lakhs of consumers.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR came into force on Tuesday, proactively rolling out stricter measures depending on the need to discourage private vehicles on roads, stop entry of trucks, use of diesel generators, and closing brick kilns and stone crush in order to combat air pollution. Last year, EPCA had banned diesel generator sets only in Delhi during GRAP. This year the ban extends beyond Delhi to Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Sonipat, Panipat, and Bahadurgarh.

Excerpts from the letter read as, "the state of Haryana has inadequate electrical infrastructure on account of defaulting builders...The builders have an option under 'Duty to Supply', to either carry out the work of said the installation of electrical infrastructure themselves or to get the same done through Distribution Licensee." The letter went on to elaborate that most of these builders choose to get the work done themselves but fail to install electrical infrastructure for supply of electricity.

Therefore due to lack of electrical infrastructure the Distribution Licensee is not able to cater to the load of such faulty colonies. Occupants in these areas do not have access to power supply and depend on DGs.