Blame Game Starts Between Uttar Pradesh Discoms And CAQM Over Ban On Diesel Generators From October 1
CAQM has banned use of Diesel Generators for over two hours in Delhi-NCR even for essential services
As peak summers and humidity is on the decline as Delhi-NCR welcomes start of winter, officials of UPPCL are sweltering under the intense heat of the directive of Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) which asks its discom – Paschimanchal Vidyut Virtan Nigam Limited (PVVNL), Meerut, “to make special efforts and ensure reliable power supply during the ensuing winters“, i.e provide 24/7 eletricity to Noida, Greater Noida, Meerut etc.
Noida, the biggest industrial hub of Uttar Pradesh, has been, for years now, declared again and again – a “No Power Cut Zone” by consecutive governments over the past over a decade now. But the stark reality of life is that Noida, Greater Noida, Meerut etc. continue to reel under numerous power cuts in a single day. Outages, line faults, burning down of transformers, faults in sub-stations and power theft could be some main reasons of the same.
Sources within PVVNL, on strict condition of anonymity said that though they were trying their level best to fall in line with the order of the CAQM to supply electricity 24/7, it is indeed quite an uphill task. They say that there are budget constraints as the budget of the state came months back. Moreover, they say, that the population of Noida is increasing by the day and so is the demand of electricity. Sources add that at this moment, keeping in view all local factors, supplying 24/7 electricity seems to be a far-fetched dream.
Numerous delegations from the industry, essential service providers including top official of hospital chains operating in Delhi-NCR etc. have sent numerous representations to the Chairman of CAQM, Mr. M.M. Kutty, and also met him in person but have failed to get any relief.
The only PNG provider in Delhi-NCR Region, Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) is under tremendous pressure to provide PNG connections to hundreds of applicants as seeking permission to lay pipelines in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, is a touch ask as permission from many departments is required. As a result, applications are keeping on piling up as the October 1 deadline for non-use of diesel generators for over two hours a day, approaches fast.
Industry bodies are crying foul. They say that small industries do not have the requisite budgets to avail PNG connections and also say that they themselves are averse to using diesel generators as it is an expensive alternative. They say that the discoms of the state are not in a position to provide 24/7 electricity and ask whether it is their fault ?
The letter issued by Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) to Paschimanchal Vidyut Virtan Nigam Limited (PVVNL), Meerut, is given below for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu.com –
