Applications to allow use of diesel gensets start pouring in

STERN ACTION EPCA has asked Delhi govt as well as authorities in NCR towns to ensure there are no outages in November

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government’s environment department and the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) have started receiving applications with a similar request — allowing the use of diesel generator (DG) sets.

Environment department officials said that with the onset of the wedding and festive seasons, they expect more applications from different sectors in the coming weeks.

The use of DG sets are temporarily banned across the national capital since October 15 this year, with exceptions for essential services, when the graded response action plan (Grap) came into force. In NCR cities, the ban could not be implemented for logistical reasons as many areas do not have power supply.

A number of requests for allowing the use of DG sets to light up social events by individuals as well as private sectors have been dropping in, environment officials told the EPCA.

“Besides wedding functions at open spaces, requests are also coming from IT industry and from various emergency services like hospitals and Delhi Metro. We have made it clear that DG sets can be used for emergencies in case of power failure or in areas with no power supply. Even they are sending us applications,” said a senior government official.

Meanwhile, the SC body has asked Delhi government’s power department as well as authorities in NCR towns to ensure there are no outages in November when pollution levels peak, as it may force people to use DG sets. Even for wedding functions and other social events, the permission for using a DG set will be allowed only after an NOC from the city power department.

“We too have received a number of applications. We have directed the environment department to allow the use of DG sets only in case of emergencies and for those getting an NOC from the power distributor that there is no power supply in the area. Permission for the same will be granted only on standby basis,” said EPCA chairman Bhure Lal.

Ban on the use of DG sets is one of the measures taken when pollution levels reach ‘very poor’ category.

Last winter, EPCA had turned down requests from government bodies, including Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) and Delhi District and Cricket Association (DDCA), to allow the use of DG sets to power the floodlights for a T20 cricket match at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in central Delhi.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had, however, allowed the use of DG sets and setting up of a sub-station at the India Gate to light up the lawns for hosting the three-day-long World Food India 2017 exhibitions.

We have directed the environment department to allow the use of DG sets only in case of emergencies and for those getting an NOC from the power distributor that there is no power supply in the area.