CPCB set to convert ambulances in govt hospitals into EVs in Delhi-NCR – ET HealthWorld

Gurugram: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has decided to convert all ambulances linked to government hospitals in Delhi-NCR into electric vehicles and install retro-fitted emission control devices (RECD) in DG sets used in the health facilities.

The pollution board on Thursday sought data from hospitals on the capacities of DG sets and the number of ambulances attached to each of them.

The hospitals will have to prepare the reports and submit them to the CPCB by October 28. The funds for the conversion will be managed by the CPCB.

“Two RECD vendors have been approved by the testing agencies. DG sets with capacities of up to 115KVA can have RECDs. Once we have the data on ambulances and DG sets, we will start the process,” said a senior CPCB official.

Even in the worst of times, when the air quality reaches the ‘severe’ category, emergency facilities like hospitals are allowed to use gensets and there is no restriction on the movement of ambulances. Using RECD on diesel gensets of 800kW gross mechanical power can bring down the particulate matter in the air.

According to data by CPCB, the organised sector has been adding 1.2 lakh DG sets every year whereas 30,000-40,000 machines are being bought by the unorganised sector.

The CPCB reached this estimate after gathering data for the past five years.

Experts said when diesel is burnt in a generator, it emits oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide and even particulate matter.

These emissions are directly released into the atmosphere, which is detrimental to the environment as well as people.

The quality of air is substantially reduced too.

People residing around DG sets find it difficult to breathe and their quality of life is affected.

The situation is all the more critical for people suffering from lung ailments like asthma and COPD.

“We have reduced the permissible limit for particulate matter for new gensets at the manufacturing level itself. So, the new generators will produce less emission. The existing ones will be retrofitted. With this, we are aiming for 70% reduction in emission of old DG sets. These steps will help us improve the quality of air in the region,” the official said on Thursday.