Cost of upgrading DG sets passed on to Faridabad residents

Bijendra Ahlawat

Faridabad, December 12

Residents will have to bear the financial burden for the conversion of diesel generator (DG) sets in their high-rise residential societies.

No other option

We have no other option but to collect funds from the residents as the cost of converting the DG sets will be around Rs 1.5 crore. Anurodh Sharma, Office-bearer, Omaxe Heights residential society, Sector 86, Faridabad

Ahead of the deadline for the conversion of diesel generators, high-rise residential societies have started the process to convert their DG sets to dual mode or retrofit ECD kits. It is learnt that most of these societies are planning to pass on the conversion costs, which may run into several crore rupees, to the residents.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had declared December 31 as the last date of exemption for running the DG sets in housing and high-rise residential societies.

Earlier this year, it had imposed a complete ban on the usage of the DG sets by industrial and commercial units from October 1 to curtail the menace of air pollution in the region.

A majority of these societies have already started or are set to start the collection of funds required for the conversion of DG sets into dual mode or retrofit ECD kits from the residents. “We have been asked to deposit Rs 5,500 in three instalments, which include an amount of Rs 1,833 by December 15,” said a resident of a housing society in Sector 88 here.

He said passing on the bill to residents would lead to an increase in their monthly maintenance charges. A subsidy scheme should be introduced to spare residents, who have been paying all kinds of taxes, from this additional burden, he added.

Anurodh Sharma, an office-bearer of the Omaxe Heights residential society in Sector 86, said, “We have no other option than to collect funds from the residents as the cost of converting the DG sets will be around Rs 1.5 crore.”

“The process of conversion of the DG sets has been launched, the cost for which is likely to be shared by an odd 800 flat owners,” said Yogesh Maan, president, residents’ welfare association (RWA), Puri Pranayam, a residential society in Sector 89.

Ranmik Chahal of the Princess Park society said the conversion cost would be met from the maintenance fund that is collected each month as no help has been provided by the government. AK Gaur of the Greater Faridabad Residents Association said the taxpayer should have been spared from additional burden.