Gurgaon’s mall mile powered by diesel

So,how does a city of malls,corporate offices and high-rise residential complexes deal with the regular power cuts,especially when the temperature soars beyond 40 degree Celsius?

Most mall owners say they have stopped depending on Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (DHBVN). The shopping malls have found a solution in diesel generator sets.

Diesel drive on ‘mall mile’

J K Gupta of Sahara Mall Management says: “Malls require electricity 24×7. There have been times during the summers,when there have been 10 hours of unscheduled power cuts. During such times,2,000 to 3,000 litres of diesel is used up and the mall shells out as much as Rs 1.5 lakh daily.”

The mall mile has an independent feeder and draws electricity from an independent power line,but that has not helped keep malls safe from long power cuts.

Colonel Mohinder Singh,deputy general manager of Ambience Mall,says: “We depend very little on DHBVN. We draw power from the CNG gas turbines from DLF power generating station,instead of diesel gensets. Government’s power grid holds no meaning for us as mostly the lines are faulty and there is constant load shedding.”

Most mall owners complain that often faults are reported from power lines. The increase in population is putting a load on transformer,in turn leading to breakdowns. The DHBVN,owners claim,has been promising to upgrade the transformers to take on extra load.

“We don’t know what has happened on that front. Most of the times,plants are not maintained properly and they work at 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their actual capacity,” Gupta said.

Oswin Issac,property manager of DT Mega Mall,says the summer of 2012 was harrowing with long and frequent power cuts,but this year the outages last a maximum of one hour.

“A diesel tanker may be called once in a week for fuelling up the gensets,” Issac says.

Cost of power

A study conducted by Gurgaon First,a citizen’s forum,titled Gurgaon’s power sector distribution assessment report (2012),says city’s demand for electricity is growing at the rate of 15 per cent every year.

Shubhra Puri,founder of Gurgaon First,says: “About 2,000 MW of power is supplied by diesel generator sets and about 800 to 1,000 MW is met by DHBVN. So,Gurgaon’s actual demand is about 3,000 MW.”

Power from diesel generator sets costs Rs 12 to Rs 15 per unit,against DHBVN’s cost of Rs 5 per unit. Yet,most industries,malls,and residential complexes rely on diesel gensets as a dependable back-up source.

But residents agree that the excess use of diesel was also a source of national wastage as the cost is borne by the Indian economy,besides the negative impact on the environment.

All is not so green

The growing demand for diesel has raised serious questions on its impact on environment.

Sumit Sharma,Director (Climate Change) at TERI,says: “Diesel fumes are potential carcinogens,according to a recent WHO report. About 1.5 lakh diesel generator sets,of different capacities,are sold every year in India. In a city that uses many diesel generator sets,the air quality could get poor,unless the gensets are being properly maintained and are of a good standard. In such cases,people have to be energy efficient and there has to be more awareness”

Dept powers ahead

DHBVN says it is better prepared this year to handle any crisis.

Sanjiv Chopra,Superintendent Engineer of DHBVN (Gurgaon),says: “Last year,we could only provide 800-900 MW due to breakdown in our plants and lack of coal stock. But this year,our Yamunanagar plant is better equipped and can provide up to 6,000 MW (to the state). Besides,coal has been stocked up at our Jhajjar and Hisar plants. The Adani group in Gujarat is also providing 1,450 MW. So,there is no shortage of power,we have excess of 2,000 MW.”

Chopra says he has been in touch with industries and commercial complexes,and this year industries have spent Rs 2.5 lakh on power back-up through diesel gensets as opposed to Rs 50 lakh in 2012.

In numbers

1,100 MW Gurgaon’s daily requirement

800 MW DHBVN’s daily supply for Gurgaon last year

This year,department claims to have an excess of 2,000 MW across state

2,000 litres of diesel used by a mall during outages that stretch up to 10 hours. The mall claims it spends Rs 1.5 lakh

Last year Rs 50 lakh spent by industries in Gurgaon on diesel for gensets

This year Rs 2.5 lakh has been spent

Rs 12-15 per unit Is the cost of power from diesel gensets,against DHBVN’s charge of Rs 5 per unit

quotes

We draw power from the CNG gas turbines from DLF power generating station,instead of diesel gensets. Government’s power grid holds no meaning for us as mostly the lines are faulty and there is constant load shedding

Colonel Mohinder Singh,deputy general manager,Ambience Mall

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Last year,we could only provide 800-900 MW due to breakdown in our plants and lack of coal stock. But this year,our Yamunanagar plant is better equipped and can provide up to 6,000 MW (to the state). Besides,coal has been stocked up at our Jhajjar and Hisar plants. There is no shortage of power, we have an excess of 2,000 MW

Sanjiv Chopra,Superintendent Engineer,DHBVN (Gurgaon)

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About 2,000 MW of power is supplied by diesel generator sets and about 800 to 1,000 MW is met by DHBVN. So,Gurgaon’s actual demand is about

3,000 MW

Shubhra Puri,Founder,Gurgaon First

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Diesel fumes are potential carcinogens,according to a recent WHO report. In a city that uses many diesel generator sets,the air quality could get poor,unless the gensets are properly maintained and of a good standard

Sumit Sharma,Director (Climate Change),TERI