Gases damage ACS in nearby areas (Hindustan Times 04 May 2012)

NEW DELHI/NOIDA: The fact that their house is situated near a river is no consolation in this torrid heat for those who have their abode near the Yamuna. RAJ K RAJ/HT PHOTO Sanjay Mago, a resident of Mayur Vihar, says he has to get his AC repaired after every three-four months. Apart from the air-conditioning systems of Metro trains, which have been affected by the toxic gas emanated by the extremely polluted Yamuna, the cooling machines of the people living along the river belt have been hit by the noxious gases that the sewage-filled water of the Yamuna releases into the air. The air conditioners installed in homes at Mayur Vihar, Vasundhra Enclave and Noida collapse within a year of purchase due to the toxic gases being released by the Yamuna. "We have to get the gas of our AC refilled twice in one season as the gas pipe leaks due to corrosion. The AC mechanic told us that it is due to the polluted air in our area," said RK Saxena, a resident of DDA flats, Mayur Vihar-1. The residents claim that within a month of purchase, the cooling capability of their air-conditioner goes down. "The AC repair shops in the locality are doing brisk business as the number of complaints has gone up considerably. "I get more than 10 calls every day. There's too much pollution in the air in this area that damages the ACS. The life of ACS has been reduced to a couple of years in this area," said Shambu Deb, who has been running an AC repair shop in Mayur Vihar phase I for more than a decade. Rising level of pollution in the Shahdara drain, a major drain that flows through the city and finally empties out into the Yamuna, has been damaging ACS, refrigerators, coolers, gold and silver jewellery, besides cars in Noida as well. "The servicing cost of the air conditioners has shot up manifold in the past two-three years. We either have to buy a new AC every season or spend almost half its cost on the repairing," said Sanjay Mago, a resident of pocket 4, Mayur Vihar Phase I.