Karnal: Industries facing hardships in operating diesel generator sets

Parveen Arora

Karnal, July 26

The shortage of dual fuel kits and retrofit emission control devices (RECDs), which are important for the operation of existing diesel generator (DG) sets in the industries, has left industrialists of Karnal struggling. Due to an increase in the demand for such essential devices, vendors are struggling to provide these to the industrialists. However, the industrialists say that the vendors have increased their rates. As a result, it has become difficult for them to afford such devices.

Increased demand, limited supply

Due to an increased demand and limited supply of dual fuel kits and retrofit emission control devices by approved vendors, there is a severe shortage of such essential devices and we have to buy at exorbitant rates — Manoj Arora, President, HSIIDC Association

Apart from it, the supply of new generators that are manufactured as per the standards laid down by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is limited.

“Several industrialists have already modified their diesel generators by installing dual fuel kits or RECDs. The shortage of these devices is causing significant delays,” said Manoj Arora, president, Haryana State Industrialists and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HSIIDC) Association.

“Due to an increased demand and limited supply by approved vendors, there is a severe shortage of such essential devices, which we have to buy at exorbitant rates,” said Arora. “Several industries are now operating solely on electricity,” he added.

Arora urged the government to provide them with the devices or ensure that the power supply to the industries was uninterrupted so that they would not need to operate on DG sets.

In the district, there are nearly 2,000 small, medium, and large-scale industries, with around 500 using diesel generators. Of these, nearly 100 have successfully installed the required devices or purchased new generators after being served notices by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

Another 200 such industrial units have placed their orders for the devices but the majority of these are yet to receive the devices. Nearly 100 industries are still being operated with diesel generators.

Last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had banned the use of DG sets for industrial and commercial sectors in the NCR to curb pollution.

“We have issued notices to the owners of the industries, which are still using diesel generators. Regular inspections are being carried out,” said SK Arora, Regional Officer, HSPCB.