Page 20 - Delhi Pollution

DDMA meeting: Authorities discuss dust mitigation, staggered office timings

Dust removal and mitigation on a mission mode will be the focus area of the multiple agencies engaged with the implementation of anti-pollution measures in the city grappling with deteriorating air quality, authorities decided in a DDMA meeting on Thursday. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, after the meeting, said that the timings of the government offices in Delhi may be changed to control pollution. "There was discussion on changing the timings of both central and state government offices in Delhi to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads at the same time," he said in a statement. Delhi government has requested the LG to discuss with the central government the possibility of conducting artificial rain in Delhi on a pilot basis, so that action can be taken in emergency situations, he said. The LG has assured of the same. A special drive will be launched to stop diesel buses, from the neighbouring states, from entering the city, the minister said and warned of action agains

Delhi LG directs deploying bus marshals on pollution mitigation duties

Civil defence volunteers who were terminated as bus marshals in October 2023 will be deployed on pollution mitigation related duties for four months following an order by Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena, officials said on Thursday. Their employment period will begin on November 1, they said. The lieutenant governor, who is also chairman of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, has advised the city government and the chief minister to come up with a concrete scheme based on due process for their future engagement after the four-month employment period, a Raj Niwas official said. The scheme -- to be prepared by the Delhi government for regular employment of the civil defence volunteers -- will include details of their deployment, budgetary provision, financial approvals, post creation and reservation norms, he said.

'Current effort only eyewash': SC slams Centre, states over stubble burning

The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Centre and state governments for failing to control stubble burning, emphasising citizens' right to a pollution-free environment

Delhi air quality worst in India; could dip to 'severe' mark before Diwali

Delhi air quality today: The official data showed that the 'very poor' air quality level in Delhi is expected to continue till Saturday. It could also reach to 'severe' level in the coming week

'Environment laws toothless': SC raps Centre over rising Delhi pollution

Delhi's air quality index (AQI) stood at 354 on Wednesday, marking an increase from the previous 24-hour average of 327, which falls under the 'very poor' category

'Delhi pollution due to BJP's bad politics': Atishi's 'don't hate' appeal

Delhi CM acknowledge the recent rise in air pollution and pollution in Yamuna river. However, she claimed that BJP's poor politics is the only reason behind the environmental crisis

Breathe at your own risk: How Delhi's air is taking a dangerous turn

Health experts warn that vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, face heightened risk, raising serious concern over the long-term impacts of air pollution

Pollution may rise due to stubble burning in neighbouring states: Gopal Rai

Rai said that he is going to write a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav for the third time to request for a meeting so that the air pollution can be controlled

Air pollution: 22 FIRs lodged, 16 Haryana farmers held for stubble burning

In an effort to discourage farmers from burning crop residue, the Haryana agriculture department has implemented strict measures

Delhi Metro to make 40 extra trips each day amidst rising AQI: Gopal Rai

Delhi's environment minister also announced more anti-pollution measures, including the deployment of more than 6,000 MCD staff for road dust control, and 1,800 traffic personnel at congestion points

'Red Light on-Gaadi off' campaign against pollution commences in Delhi

Kicking off the campaign at ITO intersection, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai appealed to drivers to help reduce pollution by turning off their vehicle engines at red light

Delhi air quality worsens; Grap-II imposed in national capital: Updates

Delhi's air quality worsens as AQI reaches 317, prompting Grap-II measures to combat pollution and protect public health

TMC blames inaction of BJP-led Centre, Haryana govt for Delhi pollution

The BJP-led Union and Haryana governments are responsible for pollution in the national capital but blaming the AAP dispensation in Delhi, TMC leader Sagarika Ghose said on Monday, asking why the Centre was not working on a national plan to combat it. "It is the same story every year, pollution in Delhi increases in October, and the Union government blames it on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. Why is the union government not working on a national plan after consulting all states so that pollution can be controlled? Where is this national plan on pollution?" Ghose told PTI. She said the BJP-led government is focused on fighting elections and targeting states ruled by non-NDA parties. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member accused the BJP dispensation in Haryana of not cooperating with the Delhi government. She held the Union and Haryana governments responsible for the increased level of air and water pollution in the national capital. "Why is the Haryana ...

Delhi's AQI hits 'very poor' as air quality worsens amid pollution crisis

Delhi's air quality hits 'very poor' with an AQI of 307; firecracker ban in effect until January 1 as authorities aim to curb pollution

BJP's 'dirty politics' responsible for growing pollution in Delhi: Atishi

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Sunday said one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the Anand Vihar area is the influx of buses from other states, adding the Delhi government will engage with the Uttar Pradesh government to implement anti-pollution measures at their bus depot near the national capital. She made these remarks while inspecting pollution control measures at the Anand Vihar bus depot along with Environment Minister Gopal Rai. Highlighting the issue, Atishi said, "Anand Vihar, which lies on the Delhi-UP border, remains a hotspot where AQI levels are the highest. This area sees a large influx of buses from outside Delhi, and there is also the Kaushambi bus depot nearby. While Delhi runs CNG and electric buses, the Kaushambi bus depot receives diesel buses. We plan to engage with the UP government to implement pollution control measures there as well. Constructions by the NCRTC and RRTS has also contributed to pollution levels in the area, she said, adding the Delhi

Delhi's ban, barium blues hit country's fireworks capital Sivakasi

The ban on barium has impacted the production of key items like sparklers, chakris, anars, twinkling stars, and pencils

'Absolute defiance': SC slams Punjab, Haryana over stubble burning

Terms air pollution monitoring panel in NCR as 'toothless wonder'; summons Haryana chief secretary to explain non-compliance and lack of strict measures against offenders

Teams formed for dust control; smog guns to be deployed: CM Atishi

Chief Minister Atishi on Tuesday announced that 99 teams will inspect private and government construction sites in Delhi to ensure compliance with dust mitigation measures, as GRAP Stage 1 has been implemented along with other related measures. The Delhi government convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday, led by the chief minister Atishi, to review the implementation of the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The meeting included representatives from various departments such as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the revenue department among others. Speaking after the meeting, Atishi emphasised the urgency of addressing pollution, noting that the city has experienced an increase in "good air days" this year. However, with the air quality falling into the "poor" category over the past two days, the government has activated GRAP Stage 1 restrictions. Under this stage, 33 teams each fr

500 km of bad roads: Delhi govt's increasing pollution woes

A recent survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi indicates that nearly 500 km of roads are in dilapidated state, significantly adding to dust pollution

As Delhi air quality turns 'red', here's what is prohibited under Grap-I

The air pollution control measures, as outlined in the 27-point Grap-I action plan, came into effect across the National Capital Region starting at 8 am on October 15