Generating controversy

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Generating controversy

Thursday, 10 October 2019 | Pioneer

Generating controversy

The EPCA has called for a generator ban beyond the borders of Delhi. This has stirred up some trouble for condos & SEZs

Residents of the capital have never had a steadier supply of electricity. Even though fixed charges have increased substantially, unit costs have remained the same and supply has been very constant. So when the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), a Supreme Court-monitored body that tracks and takes preventive action on pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), decided to ban the use of generators a few years ago, it wasn’t much of a problem as unplanned power outages and loadshedding had been eliminated for the large part. For the past few years, the EPCA has found itself mired in controversy, particularly with the sealing of illegal shops, but most of its steps have been accepted begrudgingly by capital residents. But as farmers begin to burn their fields in areas surrounding Delhi, albeit in lesser numbers than before, the EPCA, like the Delhi Government, is gearing up for the predicted pollution and has banned the use of generators. This, not just in Delhi but also in surrounding towns of NCR. And this seems to have raised the hackles of residents and industrial units in Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad.

The problem is that many of the satellite cities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh do not have a regular power supply. Worse still, with several residential projects stalled and many builders not receiving completion certificates or just delays by the authorities in providing electrical connectivity, power from diesel-fired generators is the lifeline for several communities. Even when there is power available, outages are a regular affair. The swankiest apartments have pollution-spewing generators working for hours, providing back-up power. Residents have asked the EPCA to be lenient but the body has made a name for itself with its hardline stance as several traders in Delhi have discovered to their immense cost. That said, there is one advantage in the winter months: That the dramatic demand peak of the hot summer months is much reduced as air-conditioners get switched off. But what about heating devices?The EPCA’s notice on generators should wake up the power authorities and developers to get their acts together. There is little doubt that diesel generators are polluting and must be switched off if pollutants get out of hand. If we really want cleaner air, action must be taken or else the next generation will continue to ask harder questions from us.

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