The circular is issued by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) in continuation of its earlier Circular No. GPCB/Air Action Plan-09/757115 dated October 26, 2023. It references the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019, an NGT order dated August 6, 2019 in O.A. 681/2018(PB), CPCB’s notification of procedures for certification and testing of Retrofit Emission Control Devices (RECDs) dated March 28, 2023, CAQM Direction No. 76 dated September 29, 2023 as amended on February 22, 2024 (applicable to the NCR), and CPCB’s letter dated March 22, 2024 recommending similar measures for non-attainment cities.

All industrial, commercial, residential and office establishments operating DG Sets in the non-attainment cities in Gujarat are directed to comply with the recommendations in CPCB’s letter dated March 22, 2024, for implementation of CAQM’s Direction No. 76 dated September 29, 2023 as amended on February 22, 2024.

The attached CPCB letter recommends:

(i) use of certified RECDs from approved manufacturers for in-use DG Sets of 61 KW to 800 KW capacity older than five years from manufacturing and up to their useful life, or use of dual fuel systems for in-use DG Sets of less than 800 KW capacity up to useful life, or shifting to gensets meeting emission norms under GSR 804(E) dated November 3, 2022 and

(ii) adoption of any suitable Air Pollution Control Device for DG Sets of more than 800 KW, subject to compliance with emission standards under GSR 489(E) dated July 9, 2002.

The attached CAQM Direction No. 76 (as amended) sets out a capacity-wise schedule for regulated DG Set operation across sectors in NCR, including capacity ranges, prescribed emission control systems (dual fuel mode or retrofitted ECDs), and applicable restrictions, along with stack emission standards for DG Sets of 800 kW and above.