COIMBATORE: Pump manufacturers, enjoying a major market share in the agricultural sector, have asked the Central Government to keep in abeyance the implementation of the star rating system till a consensus is reached on the technical parameters for obtaining rating that should be independently verifiable.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Union Ministry of Power came out with the concept of star rating to ensure power saving while using electrical appliances. They pointed out that it would be futile to try to achieve energy efficiency by improving pump sets without ensuring supply of quality power and accessories. Jayakumar Ramdass, President, the Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association (Siema), Coimbatore, said his association, along with the Indian Pump Manufacturers Association (IPMA), shared their views with the Central Government on improving the energy efficiency of the pumps.
He pointed out that since 2002; Siema had participated in a number of meetings on evolving a rating standard for the pump industry. But during a meeting on August 5, BEE announced unilaterally without our consent that the star marking standards would come into effect from November 1, 2008. BEE fixed efficiency parameters that were up to 20 per cent higher than BIS specifications. Explaining the seriousness of the problem faced by the pump manufacturers, he said State Governments had started insisting on star rating for agricultural pumps.
Ramdass said a five-member delegation of Siema and IPMA members met Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, BEE, and Sandeep Garg, Energy Economist, BEE, recently in Delhi. At this meeting it was agreed that the negative tolerance fixed by BIS would be accepted provided the efficiency value did not go below the immediate lower star rating value. But contrary to an indication that only certificates issued by labs accredited to National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, New Delhi, would be accepted, they learnt at the meeting that self-certifications by manufacturers were also accepted. So far, only four companies have registered for star rating of which a lion’s share was by a company based in Madhya Pradesh with factory test reports. The Siema President said he was totally puzzled about it and the Coimbatore manufacturers fear that they may fast lose market share. Ramdass said IPMA and Siema wanted equal opportunity to all players for star marking their products. The claims of star rating by manufacturers should be verified independently, he emphasised.
By Our Correspondent