Noida, July 23 (IANS): In a bid to cut pollution levels, state-run Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), which supplies CNG and piped natural gas (PNG) in the National Capital Region (NCR), has started a pilot project to run on gas-diesel generators in residential complexes.

"A pilot project to run the existing diesel based generators installed in residential complexes on a mix of PNG and diesel as fuel for power back-up was started by Indraprastha Gas Ltd," the company said in a release here on Saturday.

IGL Director (Commercial) V. Nagarajan inaugurated the supply of PNG as a fuel to dual injection generator sets at a residential complex here on Saturday.

"Apart from environmental benefits, this initiative is expected to reduce operational cost of running power back-up gensets by around 20 per cent if run on full capacity," the statement said.

The usage of gas and diesel in these generators is expected to be in the ratio of 70:30, while running at full capacity.

"It is estimated that using gas along with diesel for power back-up would result in savings of around 20 per cent in operational running cost in comparison to diesel at its current price. The pay=back period on capital investment is estimated to be around eight months," it said.

Owing to limited occupancy levels in residential complexes, however, the usage of both gas and diesel is expected to be equal, it added.

According to IGL, it has started approaching residential complexes across Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad to convert their power back-up arrangements to run on gas.