Page 136 - Delhi

Kejriwal approves Mukesh Goyal as presiding officer for MCD mayor poll

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved the name of senior AAP councillor Mukesh Goyal as presiding officer for the election of the mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Kejriwal in a tweet said that the file of the presiding officer appointment has been sent for the approval of Lt Governor VK Saxena. "Mayor election is due on April 26. In accordance with past tradition, I approved the name of Mukesh Goyal, seniormost councillor as presiding officer for the session to elect Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Sent file to LG. Decision is binding on LG unless he decides to refer the matter to the President," Kejriwal said in the tweet. In February, a row had erupted with the AAP dispensation opposing tooth and nail, Saxena's decision to appoint BJP councillor Satya Sharma as the presiding officer. The elections to the post of mayor were conducted by Sharma amid stiff protests by the AAP counsellors and leaders in the MCD House. The AAP had also protested against the ...

Delhi to get more EVs as PFC sanctions Rs 633 cr loan for cabs, 3-wheelers

The 5,000 passenger e4Ws (Electric Four-Wheelers) being launched in Delhi are expected to result in emission savings of over 1,00,000 tons of Carbon dioxide

IT hubs Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru top locations for apprentice job in Q4

Hyderabad, Delhi and Bengaluru, being hubs of the IT/tech industry, have emerged as the most promising locations with intent to hire apprentices in the fourth quarter (January-March 2023), a report said on Friday. Hyderabad with 78 per cent net apprenticeship outlook (NAO), followed by Delhi (74 per cent NAO) and Bengaluru (68 per cent NAO), witnessed an increase in apprenticeship engagement as compared to the previous half-year period (July-December 2022), TeamLease Apprenticeship Outlook Report has revealed. The Apprenticeship Outlook Report covered 14 cities and 24 industries with a survey among 597 employers during January to March, 2023). Further, the report stated that 83 per cent of employers in Hyderabad are likely to increase the engagement of apprentices, 82 per cent in Delhi and 80 per cent in Bengaluru. Chennai (81 per cent) and Mumbai (77 per cent) were close behind in hiring intent, showing immense potential, the report added. From a pan-India perspective, 79 per cen

Delhi records minimum temperature of 21.6 degree C, light rains likely

Light rains may occur in parts of the national capital on Friday which recorded a minimum temperature of 21.6 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average, according to India Meteorological Department. Sky will remain partly cloudy throughout the day and the maximum temperature is likely to settle at 36 degrees Celsius, it said. The national capital witnessed light to moderate rainfall on Thursday. The air quality index (AQI) of Delhi on Friday was recorded in the moderate (151) category around 9:00 am, data from the SAFAR showed. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe.

Delhi govt hikes minimum wages of workers in unorganised sector: Report

The Delhi government has raised the minimum wages of workers in the unorganised sector, saying this will be a respite for them from inflation. The new rates of minimum wages will be effective from April 1, the government said in a statement. The minimum wage given to labourers in Delhi is the "highest" as compared to other states of the country. Lakhs of labourers and employees in Delhi will get the benefit, claimed Delhi Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand. According to the new rates, the monthly wage of skilled workers has been increased from Rs 20,357 to Rs 20,903, a hike of Rs 546. The monthly salary of semi-skilled workers has been increased by Rs 494 per month from Rs 18,499 to Rs 18,993, the statement said. There will a monthly raise of Rs 442 in the minimum wages of unskilled workers, from Rs 16,792 to Rs 17,234. Supervisors and clerical employees in Delhi will also benefit from the new rates of minimum wages issued by the Delhi government, the statement said. According to t

Delhi logs 1,603 Covid cases in 24 hours, positivity rate dips to 26.75%

Delhi on Thursday logged 1,603 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 26.75 per cent along with three fatalities, according to data shared by the health department here. With the new fatalities, the death toll from the pandemic rose to 26,581 in the national capital. Out of 7,976 Covid beds, 390 are occupied, the data showed. On Wednesday, the city reported six deaths along with 1,757 new cases with a positivity rate of 28.63 per cent. The national capital had recorded 1,537 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent.

Waste segregation, disposal at 3 landfill up 5 times in 1 year: Delhi LG

The rate of waste segregation and disposal at the three mega garbage dumps in the city has risen more than five times in less than one year from 1.41 lakh metric ton (MT) in June 2022 to around 8 lakh MT per month at present. This information was shared in a meeting chaired by LG V K Saxena on Wednesday to review progress of legacy waste disposal at the three landfill sites at Bhalaswa, Okhla and Ghazipur in the city, a note from the LG office said Thursday. The LG has been monitoring flattening of Delhi's mountains of garbage ever since taking over last year. The rate of bio-mining-waste segregation and disposal- that stood at 1.41 lakh MT per month in June, 2022 went up to 6 Lakh MT per month by November, 2022 and currently it stands at 7.5-8 Lakh MT per month month, the note read. Saxena has asked the officials to achieve the target of bio-mining 12 Lakh MT per month at the earliest, and explore latest technological solutions for it apart from proposed "engineered landfill ...

Delhi adopts Apr 30 as retirement date for Anganwadi workers, helpers

The Delhi government has adopted April 30 as the annual uniform retirement date for all Anganwadi workers and helpers working in various centres across the national capital, according to an official order. The order issued last week stated that the Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued guidelines for all states and union territories for the adoption of a uniform retirement date for all Anganwadi workers and helpers (AWWs/AWHs). The move "will not only help in assessing the requirement of AWWs and AWHs in advance on account of falling vacant posts but will also enable department to recruit new AWWs and AWHs in a proper manner instead of doing the same throughout the year in a disaggregate manner, it read. "In view of the above, the Dept. of WCD, GNCTD has adopted 30th April of each year as the uniform retirement for all AWWS/AWHs working in various ICDS projects in Delhi. Accordingly, all AWWs/AWHs who will attain the age of 60 years between April 1, 2023, to March 31, .

Covid-19: Delhi HC asks lawyers, litigants to wear masks, follow protocol

Considering the surge in COVID-19 cases, Delhi High Court on Thursday made it mandatory for lawyers, litigants and its staff members to wear face masks on the premises and follow appropriate protocol. The high court, in a circular issued on its administrative side, noted the spread of the infection in the national capital and advised against large gatherings in the common and waiting areas to avoid any further spread of the virus. "Hon'ble the Chief Justice has been pleased to order that due to surge in the COVID-19 cases in the NCT (National Capital Territory) of Delhi, in order to contain and combat the spread of COVID-19 cases, all the concerned ie staff working in this court and members of the bar, including their staff and the litigants, are hereby directed to make use of face masks at all times in the premises of this court as a matter of caution, not to gather in large number at common areas, waiting areas of court blocks as far as possible and follow appropriate Covid ...

MCD begins work to revive three water bodies in east Delhi with landscaping

The MCD has taken up the work to revive three small water bodies in east Delhi with large-scale landscaping and rejuvenation, officials said on Thursday. The three water bodies each cover an area of not more than an acre. There are around 20 water bodies in the national capital that will be restored under the first phase of the Mission Amrit Sarovar, they said. "The Centre sanctioned certain funds for the restoration of water bodies in Delhi. We have begun the work to revive three water bodies in east Delhi. Slowly, we will begin the work to revive all other water bodies in the national capital," an official said. The official said a tender has been floated for the development of a water body in Ghazipur near Highway Apartment in Ward - 19. The tender for the redevelopment of the other two water bodies will also be floated soon, the official added. The restoration work includes digging up and filling the pond and installing fencing. "The ponds will be filled with water from canal

Apple's Delhi store now open for public: 5 things you need to know about it

Delhi's first Apple Store was inaugurated by the company's chief executive officer Tim Cook today

Delhi records minimum temp at 23.6 degree Celsius, light rain expected

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius while partly cloudy skies with the possibility of drizzle are expected during the day, providing relief from the scorching heat on Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 38 degrees Celsius. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 8 am stood at 174 (moderate category). An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 56 per cent, the IMD bulletin said.

90% of India, entire Delhi in 'danger zone' of heat wave impacts: Study

Heatwaves in India are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, with over 90 percent of the country in the "extremely cautious" or "danger zone" of their impacts, according to a new study. The study, conducted by Ramit Debnath and colleagues at the University of Cambridge, also revealed that Delhi is particularly vulnerable to severe heatwave impacts, despite its recent state action plan for climate change failing to reflect this fact. It suggested that heatwaves have impeded India's progress towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) more significantly than previously thought, and that the current assessment metrics may not fully capture the impacts of heatwaves linked to climate change on the country. To assess India's climate vulnerability and the potential impact of climate change on SDG progress, researchers conducted an analytical evaluation of the country's heat index with its climate vulnerability index. The heat index (HI) is

Centre stalling govt recruitments in Delhi, says Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday accused the Centre of stalling government recruitments in the national capital for the last nine years. Bharadwaj's remarks came after Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena handed over appointment letters to nearly 1,500 newly recruited Delhi government employees, including 324 school principals and 500 fire fighters. Raj Niwas officials rubbished the charges, saying that the AAP dispensation never put up demands for filling up vacancies. "The Education Department or any other department of GNCTD never ever put up demands for filling vacancies despite huge, glaring and long pending vacancies. They always preferred ad hocism aimed at favouritism by appointing thousands of employees on contract, in gross violation of procedures, manuals and court orders," a Raj Niwas official said. However, Bharadwaj, who is also the Services Minister, said the officers of the Services Department have on several occasions straight up refused to place on record t

Delhi to get system to upload documents for property registration by Aug

The revenue department of Delhi government is gearing up to adopt the national generic document registration system (NGDRS) that will make it easier to obtain documents related to land deeds, lease rent agreements and such other legal formalities, officials said Lt Governor VK Saxena in a recent review of functioning of sub registrar offices had directed for adoption of NGDRS, they said The system will make it simpler for the people to upload the necessary documents required for the registration of sale deeds, power of attorney and wills from the comfort of their homes, make payment and take appointments at the sub-registrar offices through the online system, they said. The faceless service will do away with the need to visit the sub registrar offices for these purposes and reduce crowd of people there, they said. A pilot project in this regard will be launched in the next few weeks and the system is expected to be put in place by August, they added.

Delhi records six Covid deaths, 1,757 new cases; positivity rate 28.63%

Delhi logged six deaths along with 1,757 new COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 28.63 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the health department here. With the new fatalities, the death toll from the pandemic rose to 26,578 in Delhi. Out of 7,967 beds, 377 are occupied. The national capital recorded 1,537 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent.

Delhi LG V K Saxena hands over 1,500 appointment letters to govt employees

Lt Governor V K Saxena on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to nearly 1,500 newly recruited Delhi government employees, including 324 school principals and 500 fire fighters. Speaking at a function organised by the Delhi government's Services Department at the Vigyan Bhawan here, Saxena congratulated the new appointees, and said a large number of posts of principals have been lying vacant since 2010-2011 and no action was taken before in this regard. He said the recruitment process to fill up vacancies on a permanent basis will continue to remain his priority and the remaining posts will be filled up at the earliest. The fresh permanent recruitment is in line with the prime minister's vision of ending adhocism in government departments and providing opportunities to deserving candidates selected in a transparent manner, said a statement from the LG office. Earlier in February, the Lt Governor had provided appointment letters to more than 1,200 appointees. The Lt Governor

Apple CEO Tim Cook to welcome customers at Apple Store in Delhi: Report

Apple CEO Tim Cook will welcome customers at the inauguration of the iconic iPhone maker's first official store in the national capital at Select Citywalk Mall on Thursday, according to sources. Tim Cook is in Delhi and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar during his visit, they said. Cook on Tuesday launched Apple's first official store in India at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) business district in Mumbai. Dressed in a black t-shirt and grey pants and accompanied by the company's senior vice president for retail Deirdre O'Brien, Cook opened the doors of the store and then started welcoming customers into the store. "He is in Delhi and will welcome customers at the Apple Saket store," a source told PTI. Apple on Wednesday previewed the new store, Apple Saket at Select Citywalk Mall here. The barricade for Apple Saket features a unique design that takes inspiration from

Tim Cook visits Lodhi Art District, National Crafts Museum in Delhi

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday visited Lodhi Art District and National Crafts Museum here, amid opening of the company's retail stores in India.

Thunderstorm, rain to provide relief from heat in Delhi, temp to drop

A spell of light rain is predicted to provide some relief from the heat in Delhi and bring down the maximum temperature by two to three degrees Celsius. Delhi's primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, registered a minimum temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius, two notches higher than normal. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 38 degrees Celsius. Delhi had recorded a maximum temperature of 40.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. This was the fourth consecutive day that the maximum temperature settled above 40 degrees Celsius here. Parts of the capital reeled under heatwave conditions for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. The threshold for a heatwave is met when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, at least 37 degrees Celsius in coastal areas, and at least 30 degrees Celsius in hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius. Earlier this month, the MeT office predicted above-nor