This story is from October 17, 2020

Genset ban to leave 700 families in two Noida societies marooned

Residents of two highrises in the city have been stocking up on candles and battery-powered lights following the direction by Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to ban diesel gensets.
Genset ban to leave 700 families in two Noida societies marooned
Logix Blossom (in picture) and Zest have been running on gensets for three years as the developer is yet to get power connection
NOIDA: Residents of two highrises in the city have been stocking up on candles and battery-powered lights following the direction by Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to ban diesel gensets.
These societies, Logix Blossom Greens and Zest, have been running on gensets for the past three years as the developer is yet to get an electricity connection for the 700-odd families living in these two societies.
The residents are in despair now as not only essential services but also their power needs are met by gensets.
Unlike Haryana, which had written to the Supreme Court-appointed pollution monitoring body and has received a conditional relaxation for similar societies in Gurgaon, there has been no representation from the UP government.
The ban came into effect on Thursday as part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to reduce air pollution.
Logix Blossom houses 640 families while 80 families reside in Logix Zest. Both the societies are located in sector 143.
Recently, following a city-wide survey, Pashchimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) had issued notice to the developer of the two societies — Logix Infratech Pvt Ltd — for not securing a power connection.
The developer, however, said they have initiated the process of setting up gas-powered generator sets.

The residents said they have planned a protest on Sunday. They added that they will go around the building compound either with an effigy or a symbolic bier of the construction group.
The project, floated nearly a decade ago with a plan for 22 towers, stands incomplete as only eight towers have been constructed.
“If the electricity supply is disconnected, our lives will come to a halt and education of children will suffer the most,” said Ramanand Shukla, a resident of tower ‘T’.
He also alleged that the developer adds electricity charges to the maintenance amount on a monthly basis.
According to the residents, erratic supply and frequent fluctuation affect the household electric appliances. “Voltage stabilisers have to be integrated with the main connection to keep the fluctuations in check,” added Shukla.
A resident of tower ‘S’, who stays on the 16th-floor along with his family, said: “If we have an emergency with the senior citizens, how will we bring them down from the upper floors? For children, I have bought battery operated lights and candles. I am keeping a limited number of food items in the refrigerator.”
Chief engineer, PVVNL (Noida), VN Singh, said: “Notices were issued to the two societies of Logix construction group since they have not taken any permanent electricity connection. During the survey, it was found that other apartments, which too stand incomplete, have taken temporary connection.”
Spokesperson of the construction group, said: “For getting electricity connection, we have sent applications to the power department. We are expecting to get the connection soon. We are committed to protect the environment. Considering the fact and recent orders, Logix group has already awarded order to IGL to shift diesel gensets to gas-operated gensets.”
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