Page 49 - Delhi Government

Ensure ban of private polluting buses in Delhi: AAP govt to authorities

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai directed the transport department on Friday to conduct a special drive to prevent the entry of private polluting buses into the capital. The minister reviewed the implementation of air pollution control measures at the Sarai Kale Interstate Bus Terminal and found buses from other states flouting the ban imposed on BS IV diesel vehicles under the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan. "We have found that private buses from other states have been violating the ban and have directed the transport department to run a special drive to check the entry of such vehicles into Delhi," he told reporters. Citing experts' views, Rai said that a slight improvement in meteorological conditions might lead to marginal relief but urged agencies to remain alert. Strict restrictions, including a ban on construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into the capital, under the final stage (Stage IV) of the Centre's air pollution control plan, known as the Graded

Delhi govt sends Bamnoli land acquisition report to CBI, ED; seeks probe

The Delhi government has sent to the CBI and the ED a report of Vigilance Minister Atishi alleging "prima facie complicity" of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in the Bamnoli land acquisition matter, requesting a probe, government sources said on Thursday. Kumar has denied any wrongdoing and alleged that "mudslinging" was being done by people with "vested interests" against whom vigilance action was taken for corruption. On Wednesday, the 670-page report of Vigilance Minister Atishi was submitted to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office. It has demanded Kumar's suspension and claimed that the scale of "undue benefits" in the matter was more than Rs 897 crore. "The report was referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the chief minister gave his go ahead," a source said. Compensation for 19-acre land in southwest Delhi's Bamnoli village for the NHAI's Dwarka Expressway project was allegedly raised

CM directs Health Minister Bharadwaj to visit govt hospital in east Delhi

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday directed Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj to visit a city government-run hospital in east Delhi and take corrective steps to improve amenities at the facility. The chief minister shared this in a post on X, in response to a post made late Tuesday night by a user, alleging insanitary conditions in the toilets of GTB Hospital. "Delhi's sick hospital -- toilets are overflowing, full of filth, this is how the hospitals of Delhi are, the picture is of the largest GTB hospital across Yamuna, where patients, attendants and staff have to pass by a toilet with a cloth over their mouths. The cleanliness system in the hospital is zero," the user alleged in the post along with a photograph. Kejriwal on Wednesday responded to the post on X. "I have directed the health minister to visit the hospital today along with senior officials and take corrective steps," he wrote.

Delhi pollution: AAP minister checks Singhu border for vehicle restrictions

Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday sai that GRAP IV regulations will remain enforced in Delhi until the next order of the Commission for Air Quality Management.

Delhi earns Rs 525 cr in Diwali with 30 mn liquor bottles sold in 2 weeks

Sixty-four lakh liquor bottles worth about Rs 121 crore were bought by people in Delhi in just three days running up to Diwali on Sunday, officials said. According to official data, the week before Diwali saw a sale of over one crore of liquor bottles fetching Rs 234.15 crore to the government, they said. "The sale of liquor picks up during festivals like Holi and Diwali in Delhi as it is not only bought for personal consumption and stocking but also for giving as gifts," a senior excise department official said. According to official figures the total sale in the 17 days before Diwali was over three crore bottles, bringing in a revenue of Rs 525.84 crore. The sale of liquor picked up just ahead of Diwali with stores selling 17.33 lakh, 18.89 lakh and 27.89 lakh bottles on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectively. The shops were closed on Diwali that was a dry day, officials said. This combined sale of over 64 lakh bottles in three days earned a total of Rs 120.92 crore. Last

HC seeks Delhi govt's stand on PIL for CAG audit of private schools

The Delhi High Court Friday sought the stand of the city government on a public interest litigation seeking audit of accounts of all unaided private schools here by the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG). A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan issued notice on the petition by Jan Seva Welfare Society, and also sought the stand of the CAG as well as all unaided private schools in the capital. The petitioner argued that unaided private schools cannot be permitted to increase their fee until their accounts are audited by the CAG and examined by the DoE. Delhi government counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi opposed the petition and said there was no legal requirement to get the accounts of unaided private schools mandatorily audited by the CAG. He said the law mandates the schools that have the autonomy to fix the fees can tender their statement of accounts for audit to the Directorate of Education (DoE). The bench, also comprising Justice Mini Pushkarna, voiced its reservations .

Delhi govt issued order of salaries to disengaged assembly fellows, HC told

The Delhi High Court on Friday was informed by the city government that it has issued orders for payment of salaries to disengaged Delhi Assembly Research Centre fellows for the services already rendered by them. Delhi government counsel for services and finance departments stated before Justice Subramonium Prasad that they have started receiving compliance and that the order does not pertain to the 17 petitioners but for all fellows who worked during the relevant period. "On November 8, we issued orders to all concerned and on November 9, we wanted compliance from all concerned and we have started receiving compliance. It is not only for these 17 petitioners but it is for all who have worked during this period," advocate Avnish Ahlawat, representing the two departments, told the court. In compliance with the court's earlier direction, she also placed the November 8 order on record. The court, which has listed the matter for December 6 for further proceedings, was hearing a petitio

Combating air pollution with artificial rain: Cloud seeding explained

The Delhi govt has announced it would initiate cloud seeding to tackle air pollution in the national capital

Delhi govt says the odd-even scheme will not come into effect for now

Gopal Rai said the government will review the air quality situation after Diwali, and a call on the odd-even scheme may be taken if there's a sudden dip in air quality

Delhi govt's ban may disrupt operations of ride-hailing firms: Uber to LG

Ride-hailing platform Uber has opposed the move in a letter to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the Transport Commissioner

Gopal Rai calls meeting with all ministers on ongoing air pollution problem

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting with all ministers to discuss the air pollution problem gripping the national capital for more than two weeks now. The meeting will take place at the Delhi Secretariat at 12:30 pm, officials said. The air quality in Delhi was recorded in the 'severe' category on Thursday morning, with a marginal improvement expected just ahead of Diwali as meteorological conditions are likely to become slightly favourable. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 420 at 8 am on Thursday, compared to 426 at 4 pm on Wednesday. The AQI map prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board showed clusters of red dots (indicating hazardous air quality) spread across the Indo-Gangetic plains. Neighbouring Ghaziabad (369), Gurugram (396), Noida (394), Greater Noida (450), and Faridabad (413) also reported very bad air quality. According to officials at the India Meteorological Department, a change in wind direction from northwest to southeast due

64% Delhi-NCR residents do not support odd-even scheme: LocalCircles

A survey by LocalCircles said that 56% of those surveyed in Delhi-NCR oppose one or more exemptions in the odd-even scheme

HC seeks Centre, Delhi govt view on PIL to distinguish religion from dharma

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Centre and city government on a public interest litigation seeking a direction to the authorities to use the proper meaning of the term religion and not use it as a synonym of dharma in official documents. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma granted time to the governments to respond to the petition by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The petition also sought a direction to include a chapter on "dharma and religion" in syllabus of primary and secondary schools in order to educate the masses and control the religion-based hatred and hate speeches. There is a colonial mindset which is being continued, said the petitioner before the bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. In his petition, the petitioner asserted that dharma is not religion as the former is non-divisive, non-exclusive and transcends narrow boundaries of religion. If we try to define religion then we can say that religion is a tradition

AAP misled, lied to people in matter of odd-even scheme: Delhi LG's office

"The file to this effect clearly shows that the decision to implement the odd-even scheme as a part of measures under GRAP-IV was not approved by Minister (Environment) Gopal Rai," LG's Office said

'Can't turn blind eye': Delhi HC orders strict enforcement of fire norms

Asserting that it cannot turn a blind eye to potential violation of fire norms, the Delhi High Court has directed the city government authorities to conduct regular checks at Azad Market to identify the violators and refer them to the Fire Prevention Wing. A bench headed by Chief Jusice Satish Chandra Sharma, in an order passed on Monday, directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Fire Services to ensure scrupulous and rigorous enforcement of fire safety norms. The court's order came on a public interest litigation by Azad Market Residents Welfare Association for action against unauthorised and illegal constructions in the north Delhi market. The petitioner contended there were buildings in the area that were constructed in violation of the applicable bylaws and fire safety norms resulting in fire accidents and loss of human lives. The court said the grievance raised by the petitioner was sufficiently addressed by the MCD which cleared the area of unauthorised and ..

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Ahead of Diwali, Delhi announced Rs 7,000 bonus for Group B and C employees

Kejriwal said his government has always endeavoured to make life better for its employees and that such efforts will continue in the future

What Arvind Kejriwal's arrest would mean

SC's deadline to conclude the case ends in April. By then, the general election will be on. If the allegations against AAP leaders are established, and they're jailed by then, it will benefit the BJP

Delhi's air quality continues in 'severe' category as AQI hits 488

Delhi air pollution: In view of the rising pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has today called a meeting of all concerned departments to strictly implement stage four of the Grap measures

Arvind Kejriwal targets BJP, Congress, claims AAP offering hope to people

"I can say this with the challenge that Congress and BJP are smaller organisations than the AAP. They are not even the 10th part of the size of the Aam Aadmi Party," CM Kejriwal said