Diesel Generators Encroach Public Spaces in Noida and Ghaziabad, Raising Safety Alarms
Across the urban landscapes of Noida and Ghaziabad, diesel generator sets have become a ubiquitous presence along roadsides, parks, and pavements. This widespread installation, however, comes at a significant cost to public safety and convenience, blatantly flouting established norms and regulations.
Widespread Reliance on Generators Amid Power Issues
With frequent power cuts and voltage fluctuations plaguing the region, shops and commercial establishments in markets, residential sectors, and green belts heavily depend on these gensets to maintain daily operations. Unfortunately, many of these units are improperly placed on footpaths, road medians, covered drains, and even within parks, obstructing pedestrian pathways and heightening risks of fire hazards and electrocution.
Local Examples Highlight the Problem
In Noida's Sector 104 market, a stretch of approximately two kilometers is lined with nearly two dozen generators positioned along pavements and roads. Businesses such as shops, eateries, gyms, and showrooms rely on them during electricity outages. For instance, Satpal Singh, a 72-year-old tea stall owner, has three generators painted green, yellow, and white near his stall. He remarked, "I have been running my stall here for 11 years, and as far as I remember, these gensets were always here." Unconcerned by a 'no smoking' warning on one machine, Singh lit a cigarette nearby, dismissing risks with, "Kuch nahin hota. I have done it for years."
Pedestrian Inconvenience and Danger
For pedestrians like Anubhava Mishra, a local resident, these generators often become obstacles. After navigating traffic to cross an arterial road, she found three generators blocking the footpath. "There is no place to walk," she explained. "Between gensets, illegal parking, and an auto stand, pedestrians are forced onto the main road with speeding vehicles, creating a dangerous situation. But what choice do we have?"
Business Constraints and Lack of Alternatives
Shopkeepers acknowledge the inconvenience but cite few alternatives. A manager at a hotel chain outlet in the area noted space constraints, stating, "This is a rented three-storey building with every inch occupied. There is no place inside to install a genset, but businesses cannot depend solely on the electricity supply. If power goes out, operations stop."
Encroachment in Public Spaces and Parks
Public areas have not been spared from this trend. In Sector 37, a generator sits next to a heavily pruned tree, while inside a park boundary, another hums beside a Noida Authority signboard warning of penalties for encroachments. Officials from the electrical safety department emphasize that rules prohibit generator installations in public places. Ramesh Kumar Kanojia, assistant director in Noida's electrical safety department, clarified, "They must be located within the premises of a property, preferably on a terrace."
Safety Risks and Enforcement Challenges
Safety concerns extend beyond encroachment. Saurabh Kumar Singh, assistant director in Ghaziabad's electrical safety department, highlighted risks during flooding, noting, "If a generator is installed on the ground floor and water accumulates, it can lead to electrocution." According to norms, generators should be placed on terraces or raised above plinth level on ground floors, with proper earthing and trained operators. However, Singh admitted, "In reality, many of these norms are ignored," and enforcement is largely complaint-driven, with actions taken only upon specific complaints or inspections.
Urban Planning Violations and Legal Precedents
Urban planning regulations also restrict installations in setback areas, which are open spaces for ventilation, natural light, and emergency access. A Ghaziabad Development Authority official stated, "Installing generators in setback areas defeats the purpose and creates safety risks." Yet, such installations remain widespread. Municipal officials note that generators on roads or pavements fall under encroachment rules, potentially attracting fines or confiscation, but enforcement is lax, with no recent significant actions recalled.
Historical Context and Legal Reminders
Residents and legal experts point to longstanding issues. Rajiv Ranjan Raj, a lawyer and resident of Kavi Nagar in Ghaziabad, referenced a 2014 public interest litigation in the Allahabad High Court regarding similar concerns in Meerut markets. "The court had taken a strict view and directed authorities to clear public spaces of illegally installed generators," he said. "Those orders should still serve as a reminder to civic bodies."
