Many residents residing in cities like Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram have raised concerns and objections regarding the impending ban on diesel generators in the National Capital Region (NCR) set to take effect from October 1.
The directive to prohibit the use of diesel generators in the NCR was issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a central agency established to address air pollution, back in June.
However, members of apartment associations have contended that implementing such changes is not financially feasible for their buildings, and they are unable to bear the costs independently.
Alok Kumar, a member of an apartment owners' association in Ghaziabad, emphasized that many residential societies are already grappling with the challenge of securing basic amenities. The prospect of replacing their substantial generators or retrofitting them is, therefore, a significant financial burden. He urged government agencies to consider the practical constraints faced by these societies before enacting such regulations.
Abhishek Kumar, President of the New Era Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA), proposed that it should be the responsibility of the builders to furnish CNG-based generators before handing over flats to residents. He questioned why apartment owners should be burdened with the entire cost and advocated for holding builders accountable for retrofitting.
Ashish Kumar, a resident of Gurugram, echoed the sentiments expressed by residents in Noida, Ghaziabad, and other areas. He stressed the importance of the government devising a systematic plan for replacing diesel generators with CNG-based ones, providing assistance to residential communities, instead of imposing such directives.
The CAQM had originally set a deadline of September 30 for apartment owners to transition from diesel generators to CNG-based alternatives. The decision to implement such measures was prompted by the escalation of pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region during the winter months, necessitating urgent action to mitigate the environmental impact.
