NGT orders fresh inspection of DG sets in Punjab over non-compliance

Patiala: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), principal bench, New Delhi, has expressed serious concern over the compliance status of diesel generator sets across Punjab, and directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to conduct a fresh, targeted inspection and submit a comprehensive report within eight weeks.The matter was taken up following a news report published in The Times of India – ‘DG Sets Contributing Significantly to Punjab's Pollution'. The news report flagged the outsized role of unregulated generator emissions in the state's deteriorating air quality.During the hearing, the PPCB placed its inspection findings before the Tribunal, covering DG sets across industries and commercial establishments in the state. The Pollution Control Board reported that of the 1,323 units inspected, 1,129 were found compliant with existing environmental norms. However, the remaining units showed systemic non-adherence.The PPCB submitted that 156 units were operating without valid consent from the authorities, while 181 were found in violation of prescribed emission standards. The Pollution Control Board further stated that 179 show-cause notices were issued, and enforcement action against two units was already underway.The NGT identified a deficiency in the PPCB submission, noting that the report did not state whether inspections specifically tested compliance with the revised emission standards notified under the GSR 804(E), 2022, which it described as the primary regulatory benchmark governing generator set emissions in India.The Tribunal held that without this determination, the compliance exercise could not be considered complete or conclusive.The NGT directed the PPCB to conduct a fresh, comprehensive inspection of all DG sets, specifically assessing adherence to norms prescribed under the GSR 804(E), 2022, and to submit a detailed report within eight weeks. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 21."The GSR 804(E) notification, issued by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change in 2022, significantly tightened permissible emission limits for particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons from diesel generator sets. Compliance often requires retrofitting older units or replacing these entirely — an obligation many commercial operators have been slow to fulfil," said a PPCB official, adding that soon the instructions would be passed for fresh inspection of DG sets to ensure the compliance of the NGT orders.Punjab's air quality remained under regulatory scrutiny, with stubble burning and vehicular emissions drawing the most attention. However, stationary diesel generators used across industries, hospitals, commercial complexes, and data centres were increasingly identified as a significant and under-regulated source of fine particulate pollution, particularly in the urban areas of the state. The NGT intervention signalled a sharper focus on this contributor, with enforcement tied to current regulatory standards rather than the outdated benchmarks.MSID:: 130355723 413 |