In 2022, generator sets emitted over 1k tonnes of PM2.5 in Haryana: Study
For perspective, that's roughly one-fifteenth of the annual PM2.5 emissions from heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs), which released about 16,600 tonnes (16.6 Gg) in the same timeframe, in Haryana.
PM2.5, tiny particles that can only be seen with an electron microscope, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, driving up asthma, cardiovascular diseases and early mortalities.
You Can Also Check:
Gurgaon AQI
|
Weather in Gurgaon
|
Bank Holidays in Gurgaon
|
Public Holidays in Gurgaon
|
Gold Rates Today in Gurgaon
|
Silver Rates Today in Gurgaon
"DG sets installed in Haryana emitted around 1.1 Gg of PM2.5 during 2022.
Bhiwani district alone emitted around 10% of the state's emissions," said Anirban Banerjee, senior associate at the think-tank's air quality team.
The study — Switch on, Smoke off: Reducing Emissions from Diesel Generator Sets -- released on Thursday used data on DG sets and combined it with emission factors from CPCB and international studies to arrive at these figures.
Banerjee said on Thursday that Haryana needs a multi-pronged approach to reducing emissions from DG sets.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
"Identify and scrap old DG sets, along with replacing them with solar and CPCB IV+ DG sets can reduce emissions. Gas-based generators can help, but the state needs to increase last-mile connectivity," he said, adding that Haryana currently does not produce enough solar energy for a clean switch.
What makes DG emissions particularly dangerous is their concentration in populated areas.
"DG sets may look small in comparison to the trucking sector, but their emissions are highly localised and concentrated.
A large truck fleet disperses its emissions over highways and regional corridors. DG sets pump toxic particles right where people live, work and breathe," said an air quality analyst associated with the study.
According to the study, Bhiwani led the pollution chart, with 97 tonnes of PM2.5 annual emissions from DG sets, followed by Panipat with 66.1 tonnes, Kaithal with 65.5 tonnes and Gurgaon with 57 tonnes. Together, these districts accounted for nearly one-fourth of the state's generator-linked PM2.5 emissions.
Particularly concerning are medium- to large-capacity DG sets in the 76KVA to 750KVA range, which contribute 74% of Haryana's total generator-linked PM2.5 load, the study said. These workhorses of industrial hubs, construction sites and high-rise complexes often run for hours during power cuts.
In India, regulatory response to diesel generators has evolved. In 2019, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) identified DG sets as a significant pollution source — contributing up to 18% of ambient air pollution in non-compliant cities — and pushed for dual-fuel retrofitting or emission control devices (RECDs).
Haryana's pollution board followed suit in mid-2020, directing industries in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat and Bahadurgarh to convert or retrofit DG sets over 500 kVA. But deadlines were repeatedly extended.
More recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Oct 2023 formalised strict year-round norms for NCR, mandating that generators be retrofitted with RECDs or run in dual-fuel mode.
Before that, use of traditional diesel generators was banned in NCR only in the polluted winter months. The CSTEP report, reflecting 2022 emissions, offers a pre-regulation snapshot that underscores the scale of the problem before the latest norms took effect.
On Thursday, experts warned that without strict emissions norms and reliable power supply, Haryana's dependence on DG sets could worsen pollution in rapidly growing urban centres like Gurgaon and Faridabad.
"DG sets are meant for backup, but in many areas with frequent power cuts or industrial demand, they are running almost daily. The cumulative emissions are enormous, especially in urban and industrial hubs," said a senior scientist.
Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: "Mandatory retrofitting with emission control devices, enforcing limits on run-time and incentivising the shift to gas-based or solar backup could sharply reduce emissions."
The study found that 14.7 lakh DG sets were operational across the country in 2022. These added 42 Gg of PM2.5, 23 Gg of black carbon, and 877 Gg of nitrogen oxides (NOX).
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'Laundromat for Russia': Donald Trump aide targets India amid US tariff threats
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has levelled fresh charges against India over its purchase of oil from Russia, alleging the country is a 'laundromat for the Kremlin'. Navarro's attack comes days after he termed India the "Maharaja of tariffs" as he backed US President Donald Trump's doubling of duties on Indian goods entering the country. Peter Navarro, White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, speaks to members of the media outside the White House.(Bloomberg) In a media interaction, Navarro asserted that India's oil purchase from Russia was virtually close to nothing before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "The argument now, when this percentage has gone up to 30-35%, that somehow they need Russian oil, is nonsense...," the Trump aide could be heard saying in a clip shared by C-Span. "India doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed... It's cosying up to Xi Jinping (Chinese President). They (India) don't need the (Russian) oil," he said. Backing the same argument, Navarro later said that India's oil trade with Russia is "a refining profiteering scheme. It's a laundromat for the Kremlin." However, the White House official further added: 'I love India. Modi is a great leader, but please, India, look at your role in the global economy. What you're doing right now is not creating peace. It's perpetuating the war.' Navarro's remarks come days ahead of Trump's 50% tariff deadline for India. Last month, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Indian imports, which he later threatened to double to 50%. While one half of these duties came into force earlier this month, the remaining would take effect on August 27. "In India, 25% tariffs were put in place because they cheat us on trade. Then 25% because of the Russian oil... They have higher tariffs, Maharaja tariffs...," Navarro said, adding that there's a massive trade deficit between India and the US which hurts American businesses. Navarro said that India pays the money it gets from doing business with the US, to Russia, for buying their oil, "which then is processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there, but then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians." The White House official then asserted how the American taxpayer money goes into providing more military aid to Ukraine, adding "that's insane, and President Trump sees that chessboard beautifully... In many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi...". This is not the first time the White House official has targeted India over Russian trade. In an opinion piece for the Financial Times a few days ago, Navarro termed India's oil trade with Russia 'opportunistic' and 'corrosive' to global efforts being made to isolate the Russian economy. 'As Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, helped by India's financial support, American (and European) taxpayers are then forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine's defence. Meanwhile, India keeps slamming the door on American exports through high tariffs and trade barriers. More than 300,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed, while Nato's eastern flank grows more exposed and the west foots the bill for India's oil laundering,' wrote Navarro. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is visiting Moscow, lashed out at the tariffs threatened by the US and said that India was "perplexed" at the rationale behind the move. 'We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil, that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG, that is the European Union. We are not the country which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the south,' he said. Trade ties between India and the US have been seeing some tensions ever since Donald Trump's tariff tirade last month. While it has targeted India time and again for its oil trade with Russia, it has not imposed any sanctions on China yet.
The Hindu
21 minutes ago
- The Hindu
‘Maharaj' in tariffs: Trump's Trade Adviser Navarro criticises India over Russian oil
India is a 'Maharaj' in tariffs and it is running a 'profiteering scheme' by using discounted Russian crude oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has said, in yet another sharp criticism of New Delhi. Mr. Navarro's comments came on a day External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to criticism of India by American officials for its energy ties with Russia and said the U.S. itself had asked New Delhi to help stabilise global energy markets by buying Russian oil. The White House Trade Adviser also talked about how India is 'cosying up to' Chinese President Xi Jinping. The relations between New Delhi and Washington are on a downturn after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50%, including 25% additional duties for India's purchase of Russian crude oil. 'Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India virtually bought no Russian oil... It was like almost one per cent of their need. The percentage has now gone up to 35%,' Mr. Navarro told reporters in the U.S. Mr. Navarro's fresh attack on India came three days after he wrote a piece in the Financial Times slamming the country for its procurement of Russian crude oil. He said the argument that India needs Russian oil to meet its energy requirements does not make any sense. 'They get cheap Russian oil and make refined products which they sell at premium prices in Europe, Africa and Asia,' he said, adding 'it is purely profiteering by the Indian refining industry.' 'What is the net impact on Americans because of our trade with India? They are Maharaj in tariff. (We have) higher non-tariff barriers, massive trade deficit etc — and that hurts American workers and American businesses,' he said. 'The money they get from us, they use it to buy Russian oil, which then is processed by their refiners,' he said. 'The Russians use the money to build arms and kill Ukrainians and American tax-payers have to provide more aid and military hardware to Ukrainians. That's insane,' he added. 'India does not want to recognise its role in the bloodshed,' he said, adding India is running a 'profiteering' scheme. Though the U.S. imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for its energy ties with Russia, it has not initiated similar actions against China, the largest buyer of Russian crude oil. Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics. Also read: India's purchase of Russian crude funding war in Ukraine, has to stop: U.S. trade adviser Navarro India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022. Consequently, from a mere 1.7% share in total oil imports in 2019-20, Russia's share increased to 35.1% in 2024-25, and it is now the biggest oil supplier to India.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
West Delhi's Mayapuri back to scrap chaos: Illegal units encroach roads, rules flouted; pollution risks loom
NEW DELHI: The sound of a constant metallic thud reverberates through the lanes in Phase II at Mayapuri Industrial Area. A man is hammering at the rusted bonnet of an old car. Beside him, another man bends over a motorcycle, dismantling its engine with his bare hands, while two others load metal bales of compressed car bodies into trucks using a crane. Around them, piles of bike body frames, still slick with grease and engine oil, broken wheel hubs and smashed parts of motor cars lie scattered on parts of the road. This is Delhi's largest scrap market, where end-of-life vehicles are torn apart in violation of all safety and environmental norms. Though these units were shut down in 2019 on the orders of the National Green Tribunal, which took cognisance of TOI's 2018 report on the place, the illegal work began again. Locals complain that apart from occupying road space, the unscientific dismantling of vehicles is causing air, water and noise pollution . You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi Hundreds of these dismantling units have thrived in west Delhi's Mayapuri Industrial Area's Phase II, including blocks B, C, D, E, and W. Hundreds of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, are stripped down in mere hours. But under the rules, a registered scrapping vehicle facility (RSVF) needs consent and authorisation from Delhi Pollution Control Committee to operate because of a plethora of rules related to management of hazardous, electronic and plastic waste. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo These units do not meet the norms under the Central Pollution Control Board's Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Facilities for the Handling and Scrapping of End-of-Life Vehicles, alleged Mayapuri Rewariline Industrial Welfare Association. In fact, Delhi currently has only one RSVF, which is an 'orange' industry or a moderately polluting unit, according to the Union road transport and highways ministry. When TOI visited Mayapuri on Wednesday, it found a large number of scrappers operating in C, E and W blocks. They had encroached on the public road to store the broken-down parts of vehicles, while terraces of the buildings held the front body portions of cars and trucks. Significantly, the workers were not using any protective gear. CP Jain, who has run a factory here for 55 years here, said, "This illegal industry was curbed in 2019, but the units have begun operating again in contempt of NGT's orders. They dismantle vehicles in the open and keep the scrap on the road, reducing the four-lane road to one." Rajiv Chopra, treasurer of the Mayapuri Industrial Welfare Association, added that the use of cranes caused prolonged traffic jams. Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, reminded, "In 2010, Mayapuri became the epicentre of a nuclear radiation scare due to the dismantling of a discarded medical device containing radioactive Cobalt-60. All sorts of waste are handled here." Sinha said most informal recyclers use rudimentary tools and processes and do not have information on the composition of the material they handle, many of which can be hazardous and could release toxicity into the environment. "Vehicle service stations have effluent treatment plants to treat discharged chemicals. However, such plants do not exist here. If the soil in Mayapuri is checked, for sure it is contaminated by untreated chemicals seeping into the ground," he said. "Dismantling vehicles in an unscientific manner is not only dangerous for the workers but also for everyone living in and around the area. The quantum of waste being generated is so large that it adds to Delhi's air pollution load." Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (Research and Advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment, reiterated that small-scale units engaged in scrapping of ELVs needed to comply with the CPCB norms for safe dismantling and pollution control. "Their operations and waste disposal require continuous monitoring to prevent contamination of air, soil, and water," she said. "These clusters require support to build common infrastructure for safe operations and treatment. At the same time, it is necessary to expand the capacity of the formal automated scrappage centres for advanced material recovery and material separation." She added as these small-scale units were a source of livelihood and would continue to operate, so it was necessary to rationalise their operations and integrate them with the formal scrapping centres. In 2018, TOI reported how thousands of these units were running despite three NGT orders in 2013, 2014 and 2015 banning gas-cutting of discarded bodies, transformers and electronic waste in the open. Previous reports estimated the Mayapuri scrap market's annual turnover at Rs 6,000 crore. Acting on TOI's report, NGT formed a special task force to take remedial steps. STF surveyed the area and found that almost all units had "encroached upon public space", that the "conduct of trade was injurious to theJ health of the community" and "vehicles remained stuck on roads for hours, causing huge air pollution". In 2019, DPCC issued notices to 765 units that were in violation of norms. There were violent scenes when at least 30 people, including policemen, were injured after the scrap dealers clashed with a team of officials sent to seal the illegal units. Despite repeated attempts, both DPCC and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi did not respond to TOI's queries in the matter. 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.
