Grap ban on diesel generators removed from Gurugram, Faridabad

The ban imposed on using diesel generators under Graded Response Action Plan(Grap) has been lifted from Gurugram and Faridabad, said officials of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on Tuesday

The ban imposed on using diesel generators under Graded Response Action Plan(Grap) has been lifted from Gurugram and Faridabad, said officials of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on Tuesday.

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The ban was imposed in October last year as per the orders of the National Green Tribunal(NGT) to prevent rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR. These measures are meant to be implemented as a matter of course between October 15 and March 15 every year — which also happens to be the official length of the winter pollution cycle.

Kuldeep Singh, regional officer, HSPCB, said, “As the air quality is improving with the onset of summer, the ban imposed on diesel generators under Grap has been lifted by the Central Pollution Control Board. An order in this regard was issued last week. However, we are still keeping a tab on different activities being undertaken in the city to prevent air pollution and deterioration of the air quality.”

A letter, dated March 5, issued by Shiv Das Meena, chairman of CPCB states, “As per the forecast received air quality in Delhi-NCR is expected to be better in the coming days due to improved ventilation conditions. Based on this forecast and prediction, CPCB has decided that the ban on use of diesel generator sets in Delhi-NCR is lifted(sic)”

The CPCB, however, directed the state pollution control boards to ensure that large construction sites adhere to prescribed guidelines and take adequate measures to manage dust pollution. The implementing agencies have also been asked to continue to take stringent actions with emphasis on pollution hot spots.

On October 9 last year, the Environmental Pollution Control Board Authority(EPCA) had directed the Haryana government to strictly impose the ban on the use of diesel generators in Gurugram and Faridabad in view of the rising levels of air pollution.

Meanwhile, air quality in Gurugram, remained in the ‘poor’ category of the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday, with a reading of 272 on the daily pollution bulletin — an increase from an AQI reading of 204 recorded a day prior. The air quality in the region has worsened in the past few days, as the AQI at 177 was recorded to be in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday.