India vs New Zealand 2017: No Diesel Generator For T20I In Delhi
Jan 9, 2019 at 3:53 PM
In an attempt to curb pollution in the capital, Delhi, the Supreme Court-appointed environment regulator, on Friday refused to give the green light to the BCCI and the DDCA to use diesel generators at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium for the first game of the upcoming three-match T20 International of India vs New Zealand 2017 series, on November 1.
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Earlier this month, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had imposed a ban on the use of diesel generator sets (DGs) across Delhi, except for essential services, until March 15, 2018, as part of the Graded Response Action Plan to control air pollution. However, on October 26, the BCCI and the DDCA had separately written to the EPCA for a no-objection certificate to use DGs at the venue. Both the cricket bodies also insisted that the DGs are necessary for the proper functioning of the floodlights and were even ready to pay the taxes to avail the services.
However, Bhure Lal, chairperson EPCA, in reply said:
“Unfortunately it will not be possible for us to agree to such a request as the ban on diesel generator sets is critical in view of the very poor and severe conditions that are prevalent in Delhi for air pollution.”
“We have in our last minutes made it clear that we allow for generator sets to be there as back-up but we would not like them to be used because we expect that power is available and therefore there is no need to use… generator sets,” he added.
Lal also made it clear that there is no need for DGs when electricity is fully available.
“What is the need for diesel generator sets when electricity is fully available? Earlier, we had refused permission for DG sets to be used for a Tourism Ministry event,” Lal told The Indian Express.
A BCCI spokesperson said that DISCOMS have assured EPCA of providing uninterrupted power supply and the board is relying on them.
“We have been told by EPCA that the Delhi power authority has informed them there is no shortage of electricity in the capital. Now, the onus is on DISCOMS to provide us uninterrupted power supply,” the BCCI spokesperson was quoted as saying by the news outlet.
“Most of our associations use generators since that’s the only way we are sure that there wouldn’t be a sudden break in power,” the spokesperson added.