Page 26 - Delhi Government

Kailash Gahlot calls gig workers 'Pradushan Yodha', asks them to adopt EVs

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday called gig workers of food delivery companies as 'Pradushan Yodha' (warriors against pollution) as he spoke about the importance of electric vehicles. Addressing thousands of delivery partners, commonly known as 'gig workers', at an event organised by delivery companies Zomato and Blinkit at Talkatora Stadium, he called them the backbone of India's economy. "You are ensuring that millions of people can receive household essentials in minutes and enjoy meals from their favourite restaurants with just a click. Your dedication keeps our cities running smoothly. "Your commitment to your work and to protecting the environment is truly inspiring. The Kejriwal government is with you every step of the way. Together, let's make Delhi pollution-free by adopting electric vehicles (EVs)," he said. Gahlot emphasised the importance of transitioning to electric vehicles and said they are not just a technological change but also a crucial move to

Centre appoints senior IAS officer Dharmendra as Delhi chief secretary

The Centre on Saturday appointed senior IAS officer Dharmendra as the new Delhi government chief secretary. Dharmendra, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT cadre, was Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary before being transferred to Delhi. He is among the senior-most Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre officers and is taking charge as the Delhi chief secretary ahead of the assembly polls due in February. "With the approval of the competent authority, Dharmendra, IAS (AGMUT 1989), is hereby transferred from Arunachal Pradesh to Delhi and posted as chief secretary, GNCTD, wef 01.09.2024 or with effect from the date of joining, whichever is later," according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs order issued on Saturday. Incumbent Naresh Kumar, a 1987-batch officer, who was given two extensions in the past, completes his tenure on August 31. Dharmendra's appointment came on the day his predecessor's three-month extended tenure

Delhi govt announces exemption of VLTD annual fee for all public vehicles

This decision was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Delhi Transport Department and the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for the VLTD project

SC grants bail to BRS Leader K Kavitha in Delhi liquor policy case

Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader secures bail from Supreme Court after five months in custody

Delhi Mohalla buses still far from being deployed as vehicles yet to arrive

Delhi residents may have to wait a little longer to board Mohalla buses as the transport department is still working to finalise routes and is yet to get the vehicles. According to officials, Delhi Transport Corporation and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) will soon start trial run on two new routes -- Indian Airline colony/Priya Cinema to Lok Kalyan Marg Metro Station and Lok Kalyan Marg to Vasant Vihar. The trial on two routes -- Pradhan Enclave Pushta to Majlis Park Metro Station and Akshardham Metro Station to Mayur Vihar Phase III Paper Market -- is already going on. "The DTC and DIMTS will be starting trial run on two new routes to gain further insights. There are 16 depots that have been built for parking and maintenance of these buses. The work for installing charging infrastructure is going on at these depots and will take time. "There has been a delay in the arrival of buses from the company. The department was targeting to launch these buses by the en

Delhi govt's transport dept to scrap unregistered, impounded e-rickshaws

The Delhi government's Transport Department will soon start scrapping unregistered e-rickshaws that have been impounded, officials said on Friday. Before being handed over to a scrapper, they will be crushed using a roller, they added. Owners of such unregistered e-rickshaws will be given a week's time to get them registered and if they fail to do so, their vehicles will be impounded and handed over to a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility, the official said. "Before being scrapped, they will be crushed using a cutter and crusher, a senior official said. The decision comes after a high-level review meeting held by the LG to decongest the city, during which instructions were given to put a check on the illegal proliferation of e-rickshaws. According to official figures, there are approximately 1.2 lakh registered e-rickshaws in the national capital. However, there are many plying on the road without valid registration causing congestion and safety hazards. The department recentl

Delhi LG asks chief secy to submit monthly civic infra inspection report

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to submit a monthly report on the inspections conducted by senior officers in the aftermath of deaths due to "complete collapse of civic infrastructure" this monsoon, officials said on Monday. In a written communication to the chief secretary, Ashish Kundra, the principal Secretary to Saxena, said the LG has advised that an "institutionalised mechanism be put in place for scheduled inspections" by senior officers of facilities under their charge. "It would help them obtain a first-hand feel of the core problems being faced by citizens and take corrective policy or regulatory measures. The chief secretary shall circulate a uniform format of inspection report to all departments and submit a monthly report on number of inspections done by each officer," read the letter. Kundra also pointed out that even the Delhi High Court has taken a serious note in the matter of desilting of drains in the national capita

Delhi LG calls drains condition appalling, says result of years of neglect

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday said the condition of drains in the national capital is the result of "years of neglect". On August 4, Saxena inspected three arterial drains -- Barapulla, Kushak, and Sunehri -- and flagged their state as "appalling" and noted that they were filled with silt and debris. In a post on X, Saxena said, "The city's major drains, clogged with silt and garbage, are mainly responsible for the waterlogging and the resulting hellish conditions in Delhi every year. This condition of Delhi's drains is, clearly, the result of years of neglect and negligence". Saxena noted that the Barapulla, Kushak, and Sunehri drains alone are responsible for draining the water from 24 per cent of the entire Delhi area, "but these drains are not able to work even at 10 per cent of their capacity". "The reason is clear. The cleaning work started after my visit on August 4 and in the last 10 days more than 1200 MT of silt has been removed from these drains," he ...

Imams of Delhi WAQF allege non-payment of salary, demand investigation

Government's substantial grant to the WAQF board has not helped in timely payments for the Imams

Delhi excise scam: Court extends custody of Kejriwal, K Kavitha till Sept 2

A court here on Tuesday extended till September 2 the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BRS leader K Kavitha and others in a money-laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended the custody of the accused after they were produced before the court through a video-conference on the expiry of the period of their judicial custody granted earlier. The Supreme Court had earlier granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the case. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader continues to be lodged in the Tihar jail here as he has not furnished the bail bond in the case. The Delhi chief minister is in judicial custody in a corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged scam.

L-G nominates Delhi HM Kailash Gahlot to hoist national flag on I-Day

Lt Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday nominated Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to hoist the national flag at the state Independence Day event, officials at Raj Niwas said. The choice that bypasses several other senior government leaders is likely to set a stage for another round of tussle between the AAP dispensation and the LG Secretariat. "Lieutenant Governor is pleased to nominate Minister (Home), GNCTD, Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the National Flag at the State level Independence day celebrations at Chhatrasaal Stadium. Necessary arrangements may be made accordingly," LG's secretary Ashish Kundra said in a written communication to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. Earlier in the day, the Delhi government's general administration department refused to implement department minister Gopal Rai's direction for the hosting of national flag by Education Minister Atishi.

Elected min should hoist tricolour, politics over it unfortunate: Sisodia

Amid a controversy over who hoists the flag at the Delhi government's Independence Day ceremony here, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia Tuesday assailed Lt Governor V K Saxena, saying there should be no problem with an elected minister doing it. The Delhi government's General Administration Department (GAD) has refused to comply with its minister Gopal Rai's direction to make arrangements for Education Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag as per a letter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the LG. However, the LG office has maintained that no letter from Kejriwal, who is in judicial custody, has been received. Tihar jail authorities have said the CM's letter was not sent to the LG because it was not permitted according to prison rules. Sisodia said it is "very unfortunate" that "such petty politics" is being done on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day. "I read in the papers that when a conman Sukesh writes letter, the Tihar administration duly submits it to the LG ...

'Wrong to expect democracy from LG': Manish Sisodia on flag hoisting row

A fresh row erupted between the Delhi government and the LG after jailed CM Kejriwal informed Saxena that Minister Atishi will hoist the national flag during the government's Independence Day event

CM Kejriwal cannot direct Atishi to hoist national flag on Aug 15: GAD

Amid uncertainty over who will hoist the national flag during the official Delhi government function on Independence Day, the General Administration Department (GAD) here said Tuesday Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail in a corruption case, cannot authorise minister Atishi to do so on his behalf. GAD Minister Gopal Rai Monday directed the department to make arrangements for Atishi to unfurl the flag as the chief minister "desires". Responding to the minister's communication, GAD additional chief secretary Navin Kumar Chaudhary said the CM's direction is "legally invalid and cannot be acted upon". The GAD officer has also said the chief minister's communication to Lt Governor V K Saxena on August 6 in this regard was "not permissible" according to the prison rules. Chaudhary said preparations for the Independence Day function of the Delhi government was underway at its regular Chhatrasal Stadium venue. As the CM in judicial custody and not available to hoist the flag, the

Delhi excise case: Court extends Kejriwal's judicial custody till Aug 20

A Delhi court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till August 20 in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended Kejriwal's custody after he was produced before the court through video conference. The court is likely to consider on August 12 a supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against Kejriwal in the case.

NHRC issues notice to Delhi govt over death of inmates at shelter home

The NHRC on Saturday said it has issued notices to the Delhi government and the city's police chief over reports alleging that 12 inmates died within a month at a shelter home in Rohini. The death of inmates, in such a large number within a short period, indicates "negligence on the part of the authorities", the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that 12 inmates died between July 15 and July 31 at the Delhi government-run shelter home -- Asha Kiran -- for people with mental impairment, it said. Reportedly, they included 10 women and two men. Their symptoms were similar that is loose motion and vomiting. Several other inmates are reportedly undergoing treatment at a hospital, the commission said. According to data of the medical care unit of the shelter home, in July, 54 inmates were sent outside the facility for treatment. This has "caused alarm and revived allegations of neglect and poor living conditions

2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits six men accused of theft, arson charges

A court here has acquitted six men who were accused of committing arson, rioting and theft during the 2020 communal riots in northeast Delhi. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing the case against them. It was alleged that they looted, vandalised and torched a house in Shiv Vihar on February 25, 2020. Later, a complaint about a clinic being set ablaze was also clubbed with this case. In an order passed on Friday, the court observed that the prosecution had submitted the digital video recorder (DVR) as evidence against the accused. "However, no witness is there to identify any of the accused persons in the videos," the court said. It said the investigating officer (IO) of the case did not take any steps to confirm the appearance of any of the accused in the video clips through scientific examination or by comparing the video with the specimen picture of the accused persons. "Thus, there is no evidence at all to establish that accused persons are appearing in tho

UPSC aspirants' deaths: Protest against coaching centres enters 7th day

The students have been protesting since July 27, when three civil services aspirants lost their lives in the basement of Rau's Rau's IAS Circle after rainwater gushed into it

MCD seals two basements for violating rules, issues notice to owners

The civic body sealed the two basements in the Shahdara South Zone and Najafagarh Zone, according to a press release

Delhi govt starts preparations to control air pollution during winters

On August 21, 'Save Environment' Round Table Conference will be organized with environmental experts at the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai stated