Gurugram, Oct. 28 -- Amid enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) in Delhi-NCR, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across Gurugram are facing frequent power cuts and limited access to clean energy alternatives, forcing many to rely on old diesel generators (DG sets), industrialists and union leaders said on Monday. Several informal industrial sites in Kadipur, Daulatabad, Mohammedpur, Narsimpur, Basai, and Behrampur are yet to adopt Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-approved Stage IV+ DG sets, which can reduce emissions, comparable to Euro Stage V standards. Industrialists from Sector 37, Manesar, and Udyog Vihar said that despite the government's push for cleaner energy, high installation costs and delays in piped natural gas (PNG) connections have left them with no option but to revert to diesel alternatives. " Not everyone can afford to pay Rs.10 lakh for setting up a PNG connection at their factories," said Deepak Maini, chairman of the Progressive Federation of Trade and Industry. He added that PNG pipelines in authorised industrial zones such as Udyog Vihar and Sector 37 are limited to a few pockets. "Despite the government's focus on CNG/PNG as an alternative source of energy, industry is slowly shifting towards IV+ DG sets as an affordable option for smooth operations," he said. PK Gupta, representative of the Sector 37 Industrial Body, said authorities respond only after Grap restrictions begin. "Instead of providing a last-minute solution, the planning for alternative energy sources should be a year-long exercise. First, we wait for a long time for PNG pipelines to reach our doorsteps, and then a clause for minimum guarantee of consumption makes it impossible to bear the annual cost," he said. Officials at Haryana City Gas (HCG) said that of nearly 17,000 industrial units in Gurugram, only about 1,000 have been connected so far. "Our target is to increase volume by reaching as many units as possible in the shortest possible time. In three months, we expect to reach a daily sale of around one million standard cubic meters of gas," said a senior HCG official. The official added that delays in approvals after contractor mobilisation and raw material procurement extend pipeline laying by three to six months. According to HCG data, Haryana spends Rs.8-10 lakh per kilometre to lay PNG lines-much higher than other states, where costs range from Rs.200-300 per km, or even Rs.1 per metre. A senior official at Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) said emergency response systems are operational and staff remain on 24-hour duty. Officials added that private firms delaying underground cable work for linking grids to the ring-main system (RMS) were blacklisted and fresh tenders floated. Krishan Kumar, environment engineer at Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), said surprise inspections are being carried. "We have been carrying inspection at industrial units to ensure they comply to Grap norms," Kumar said....