Bengaluru, Mumbai, Patna among top PM2.5 emitters from diesel generators: Study
The report, titled 'Switch on, Smoke off: Reducing Emissions from Diesel Generator Sets', was released by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a Bengaluru-based think tank, at the India Clean Air Summit 2025 on Wednesday.
According to the study, 14.7 lakh DG sets were operational in India in 2022. These machines contributed to 42 gigagrams (Gg) of PM2.5, 23 Gg of black carbon and 877 Gg of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The emissions are particularly high in several districts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra, the report said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
You will never turn off your computer again.
Panzer.Quest
Undo
PM2.5, or particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres, is a major air pollutant linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
Patna, Gautam Budhha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Bengaluru Urban, Mumbai City, North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, Ajmer, Alwar and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Bhopal, and Thane in Maharashtra record the highest
PM2.5 emissions
from DG sets in the country, the study showed.
Live Events
The study said that older or poorly maintained diesel engines often violate emission standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and act as "super-emitters". These units release pollutants well above the permissible limits, especially in urban areas that experience frequent power outages.
With the DG set market projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8 per cent by 2030, the study warned that emissions could increase unless cleaner alternatives are promoted.
It recommended measures such as adopting solar-based DG sets, upgrading to CPCB IV+ models with stricter emission controls and switching to gas-based generators.
Retrofitting existing units with emission control devices was also suggested as a way to mitigate air pollution.
Solar photovoltaic systems with storage have the potential to cut emissions completely but currently account for only 30 per cent of DG set demand due to their high cost, land requirements and concerns about reliability, the report said.
Natural gas-based generators can reduce primary PM2.5 emissions by more than 95 per cent but face hurdles such as high upfront costs, limited pipeline networks in remote areas and safety challenges.
The authors said there is a need for a national scrappage policy to phase out outdated and highly polluting DG sets. They also called for economic support measures such as financial incentives for rooftop solar systems with storage and subsidies for the purchase of CPCB IV+ compliant DG sets.
The study suggested that the government make regular emission testing mandatory to identify non-compliant units. In areas where piped natural gas networks are being expanded, it recommended mandating gas-based generators as a cleaner option.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Retirement at 65 years for teaching staff, not librarians: HC
Panaji: The Bombay high court has held that a librarian of a school must retire at 60 years and not 65 years. The high court stated that retirement at 65 years is only applicable to teaching faculty and principals and cannot be extended to librarians. Such a benefit has neither been extended to his cadre nor notified by state govt, HC stated. A librarian, who is due to retire at age 60 on Aug 31, went to the HC stating that the polytechnic college where he works is compelling him to retire at 60, which is unsuitable in law. He said that he is an academic staff member under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) framework and cannot be excluded from benefits from the regulations. He argued that govt lacks authority to selectively apply regulations to a preferred class of employees. The HC held that a govt-aided polytechnic college is governed by service conditions notified by state govt. It added that the AICTE Regulations 2019, which prescribe the age of superannuation at 65, are confined to members of teaching staff and principals and cannot be extended to librarians. The HC found merit in the additional govt advocate S Samant's submission that his initial service condition at the time of his appointment in 1991 stipulated the age of retirement as 58, which was subsequently raised to 60 years in line with the policy applicable to govt-aided institutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo He cannot claim as a matter of right an extension of service up to 65 years. The court held that he has, throughout his service career, availed benefits under service rules applicable to non-teaching staff and has never been treated at par with teaching faculty in terms of cadre, pay scale, or promotional avenues. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Officials directed for continuous monitoring, relief & rescue ops
Kanpur: District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh instructed officials to carry out relief and rescue operations in a timely manner in the flood-affected villages and ensure that the public does not face any inconvenience. He was conducting a field inspection of the flood-hit areas, including Chainpurwa hamlet, Katri Laxmikheda, and the Ganga Barrage on Thursday. During the inspection, the DM emphasised continuous monitoring in villages where water levels rose and directed the officials that children, elderly, and sick individuals be identified and provided with immediate assistance as needed. The veterinary officer was instructed to vaccinate animals while the district Panchayat Raj officer was asked to maintain and oversee special sanitation arrangements in the villages affected by the floods following the rise in the water level of the Ganga. Singh, while directing the additional chief medical officer, stated that medical camps should be set up in the affected villages to distribute necessary medicines and ensure proper treatment for identified sick individuals. He ordered the sub-divisional magistrate Sadar to display a list of names and mobile numbers of all departmental officials prominently in the villages, so that residents can easily contact them in case of any issues. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Canada is looking for skilled immigrants from Jamaica! Canadian Visa Professionals Sign Up Undo Joint magistrate and SDM (IAS) Anubhav Singh said that 42 families in Chainpurwa were affected by the Ganga floods. These families have already received flood relief kits and ration through the local dealer. The district administration also arranged free tractor services for entering the village. The ADM (finance and revenue), district Panchayat Raj officer, ACMO, and other senior officials were present during the inspection. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Moving back to India from US biggest mistake': Redditor's rant goes viral; claims income was 8 times more
A Redditor's rant that coming back to India from US was the biggest mistake went viral. A Redditor's rant went viral and also drew flak as the person claimed moving back to India from US was their biggest mistake. The person revealed that the reason for the relocation from the US to India was the H-1B lottery. Calling the journey a 'downhill', the Redditor touched upon the issues of huge pay difference between the US and India for the same work, work-life balance, clean air and infrastructure. While some took the rant constructively and said they may also meet the same fate and have to come back to India, some Redditors reminded the person that they did not relocate, but was kicked out of the US. "I did Masters from USA and worked there for 4 years before my luck ran out in h1b lottery and i had to resign and come back in 2022. Its been a downhill from there. I work as a software engineer and i was earning 8 times more in USA than here that too doing same job. My monthly savings there were more than my yearly savings here," the Redditor said. The Redditor laments visa expiry and return back to India in a viral post. "Also cant ignore other factors such as good work life balance, Clean air and great infra there compared to here. I am literally slogging for peanuts here and my masters degree and US work ex is also not helping me to get a good package as companies here dont care about it at all. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Not sure how to get out of this now," the original post said. "Hard to call it a mistake when Uncle Sam basically showed you the exit door, right?" one replied. "Too many people in India have the assumption that you will get the same amount back in India as savings when you move in India can be terrible unless you have a package more than 60 lakhs or have a government job with lesser pay but all the benefits," one wrote adding: "Hope all the Indians here know that most Americans make the 60 lakhs there just working minimum." Social media users asked him to apply for another country -- Canada or European countries or can look for a better job in India.
