Noida Authority gets mixed reactions over its notice to relocate gensets placed illegally on roads in sectors.
Picture used for representative purpose only
Generator sets placed illegally on roads in sectors of Noida seem to have divided opinion among residents. Noida Authority issued a notice in February ordering removal of such sets.
The notice states that generator sets placed on roads inside a sector are an encroachment of public space, and is an obstruction to the movement of traffic and pedestrians. They are also in violation of UP Pollution Control Board guidelines. The guidelines state that these sets should be set up on rooftops or within the boundary walls of a house or a residential complex.
While FONRWA has objected to the order, some members of the association and other resident bodies supported the move.
In a recent written complaint to Saumya Srivastava, deputy CEO of the Authority, NP Singh, president of FONRWA, said that the gensets have been installed to cope up with the short supply of power in the city and that if the order was imposed on them, residents, including children and the elderly, would be troubled.
He pointed out that power transformers get damaged frequently in hot weather due to overloading and high temperature. It takes several hours to restore power supply. The overhead power cables break during a storm, which also disrupts the supply.
Singh said that due to the poor power supply infrastructure, about 20 to 25 residents from each sector installed gensets. He said that there were other kinds of encroachments on streets and footpaths but the Authority was not removing them.
“Residents will comply with the order but the Authority should improve the power supply infrastructure. I have demanded that the power supply cables should be made underground and high capacity transformers be placed,” he added.
On the other hand, Govind Sharma, member of FONRWA and RWA president of Sector 26, told City Spidey, “Why should all residents compromise for the convenience of a few? Only a few houses in each sector have gensets. But everyone is forced to put up with the noise and air pollution due to the generators.”
“Recently I urged the deputy CEO to give more time to relocate the generators,” he added.
Srivastava told City Spidey that he has received mixed reactions from various resident bodies. “While some are in favour of removing gensets, others have requested to consider their concerns before initiating action on gensets,” he said.
He said that project engineers have been instructed to consult RWAs to discuss the issues and compile a report of points raised by them within a week.
“The Authority is aware that gensets are costly and it doesn’t want to damage them during forceful removal. So residents should take these sets in their premises or else the Authority will be forced to take action,” he added.
