Residential societies still run on diesel generators in Gurugram

Gururgam: For long the focus of deadly levels of air pollution has been on Delhi. In the recent past, however, the concern of air pollution has also shifted to its neighbours where Gurugram has taken a lead.

Usage of diesel generators is one of the main reasons why the pollution levels in Gurugram has not seized. Besides erratic power supply, what is even major concern is that now most of the residential societies are also dependent upon diesel generators for their power needs. This troubling reality again came to the fore when residents of ILD greens, Ramprastha city, and Imperia Esfera approached the Department of Town and Country Planning to find a solution to the problem

The financial crisis of 2008 and the slowdown in the property market of the national capital region thereafter resulted in builders not applying for licences for power and even water connection to save costs.

In the 400 residential societies that are presently there in Gurugram, around 100 of the condominiums reportedly have not been provided the power supply from the government body.

Resutantly, thousands of citizens were forced to draw power from diesel generators. For a city that has surpassed the pollution levels of Delhi on most counts rely on diesel generators and is doing no good to improve the city's air. On an average, 1,500 liters of diesel is being used on a daily basis by the condominiums. The problem of not being provided power is felt in the residential societies that are located in the areas from Sector-58 to Sector 115.

In order to curb spiraling levels of air pollution in Gurugram, there were plans to phase out the generators running on diesel and replace it with CNG-run gensets. The move will be adopted under graded action system by the environment pollution control authority (EPCA).

Information from RTI had recently revealed that more than 10,000 diesel generators operate in the city. Besides a large number of households, many industrial units are also forced to rely on the diesel-run generators due to the erratic power supply.