NEWS

• Bengaluru Urban Among Top Districts with High PM2.5 Emissions from DG Sets
• Report by Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) – “Switch on, Smoke off: Reducing Emissions from Diesel Generator(DG) Sets”

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Findings

• Top Emitters: Patna (Bihar), Gautam Buddha Nagar/Noida (UP), Bengaluru Urban (Karnataka), Mumbai City (Maharashtra), and North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) are among the worst districts for PM2.5 emissions from DG sets.
• Bengaluru Urban’s Rank:
  • 5–75 kVA category: 3rd
  • 76–375 kVA category: 2nd
  • 376–750 kVA category: 3rd
  • Above 750 kVA category: 6th
• Other Karnataka Districts: Belagavi features at 10th position in the 76–375 kVA category.

Reasons for High Emissions

• Frequent Power Cuts: Particularly in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, frequent outages lead to heavy DG set dependence.
• Widespread Use:
  • Commercial Sector (40%) – retail (25%), telecom towers (15%), hotels (15%), offices (15%), hospitals (10%).
  • Industrial Sector (34%) – mainly manufacturing (74%).

Environmental Impact

• DG Sets in India (2022): 14.7 lakh units above 5 kVA, with cumulative capacity of 2,72,576 MVA.
• Pollutants Released:
  • 42 Gg of particulate matter (PM2.5)
  • 23 Gg of black carbon
  • 877 Gg of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Older DG Sets: Identified as “super-emitters” due to poor maintenance and outdated technology.

Significance for Policy and Governance

• DG sets are hyperlocal sources of air and noise pollution, impacting urban health and sustainability.
• Calls for:
  • Stricter emission regulations,
  • Transition to renewable backup solutions,
  • Awareness and investment in cleaner technologies.