Delhi govt plans to provide subsidy to factories for PNG switch

In a move that could help rid Delhi of industrial pollution, the Delhi government plans to provide subsidy to factories for switching to piped natural gas (PNG) from the fuels that are currently being used.

The government’s environment department has recently moved a proposal for the same before the cabinet.

The subsidy amount will depend on the consumption of gas per day, government sources said. Two categories of subsidy have been proposed — Rs 1 lakh for industries consuming more than 500 units of gas and Rs 50,000 for those consuming less than 500 units.

“The proposal is yet to be approved. The subsidy will provide an impetus to industries to switch over to cleaner fuels. It is intended to help clean up the air in industrial areas,” an official, on condition of anonymity, said.

Around 70% of industries in the capital’s Bawana and Narela are yet to convert to PNG.

The government had set a deadline of March 15 for the coversion, but it was extended to September 2018, failing which industries may face closure. According to estimates, only 513 of the 1,504 industrial units in Bawana and Narela areas have switched to piped natural gas so far.

“The coversion is crucial for cleaning up the air around Bawana industrial area, as it was identified as one of the most polluted areas in the proximity of Delhi Technological University (DTU), that houses a number of students,” the official said.

Also, the Supreme Court mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has asked the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to hold meetings with the Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) to follow up on the conversion in industrial areas, including those in east Delhi’s Patparganj and Jhilmil.

“We have asked the DPCC to issue fines to those units that still use unlisted fuels, in violation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. “Besides, the committee is also to ensure that industrial waste is disposed of at designated sites,” Bhure Lal, chairman, EPCA, said.

Meanwhile, industrial units said the move is welcome provided the procedure is not a hassle for original plot-owners. Subhash Khanna, president, Bawana Welfare Industrial Association, said, “At present some industries do have PNG connections. However, if a subsidy is provided by the government more people would be able to convert to gas, which otherwise is not possible for all factory-owners.”