Page 160 - Delhi

Smog engulfs Delhi; air quality in 'very poor' category, AQI at 369

Smog engulfed the national capital on Saturday morning pushing the overall air quality to remain in 'very poor' category with an overall Air Quality Index of 369

Ranji Trophy: Bad light costs TN yet again; Sai rues conceding late runs

Ravi Sai Kishore, who was one of the chief architects of what could have been a great win for Tamil Nadu, said that they missed out on a win by giving away too many runs in the third innings

GRAP stage III invoked in Delhi-NCR, non-essential construction work banned

In view of a spike in air pollution, the Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed implementation of curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, including a ban on non-essential construction and demolition work. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 399 on Friday, just two notches below the severe category. The Sub-Committee on GRAP, at a review meeting, noted that the AQI is likely to slip into the severe category due to calm winds and stable atmospheric conditions. It directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to invoke curbs under stage III of the anti-pollution plan with immediate effect. If the AQI is projected to reach the severe category, restrictive actions under Stage III are to be invoked at least three days in advance, according to GRAP. Curbs under Stage III include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

2022: Looking back at 20 years of Delhi Metro, on track for 2023

It has been 20 years of the Delhi Metro, 20 years of a public transport system that has been the great class leveller and transformed the way Dellhiites work, party and manage their hectic lives in a city' that stretches across three states. As 2022 winds down, it's also time to track the past, present and future of a lifeline that connects far corners of the sprawling National Capital Region (NCR) comprising Delhi, of course, and also its thriving suburbs Gurgaon and Noida, as well as industrial cities Ghaziabad and Faridabad. It started in December 2002 with a corridor of just 8.2 km spanning six stations on the Red Line and has now grown to over 390 km. The network span comprises 286 stations (including the Noida Greater Noida Metro Corridor and Gurgaon's Rapid Metro). The multi-hued network now with lines in yellow, blue, green, grey and in multiple shades of pink, including magenta and violet transformed the landscape of the city and boosted its transport infrastructure. In

Delhi govt okays new draft solar policy, aims for 25% solar power share

Delhi govt gave a green signal to the new draft solar policy, 2022, which aims to enable 25 per cent of the national capital's annual electricity demand to be met by solar power by 2025

MCD allocates over Rs 13 crore desilting of drains under its jurisdiction

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday announced it has allocated more than Rs 13 crore for desilting of drains under its jurisdiction for the next year. It said the desilting work would be carried out in two phases in June and then in January. New Delhi will be hosting eight G20 events starting from March 1, 2023 with the meeting of G20 foreign ministers and culminating with that of heads of governments and states on September 9-10. As part of its extensive action plan for desilting of drains, the MCD has also decided to rope in school children to inspect the quality of work done by contractors. "MCD, to combat the problem of water logging, has decided to carry out desilting of drains in two tranches. Now, the desilting of drains will be carried out in June and January every year. To carry out desilting operations, MCD has allocated a budget of Rs 13.76 Cr which will be spent across all 12 zones," the civic body said. Until now, the MCD has been carrying out desilti

Over 400,000 Delhi senior citizens' pension delayed; committee blame Centre

The Petitions Committee of the Delhi Legislative Assembly has taken cognizance of complaints of pensions of as many as 4,26,058 senior citizens getting withheld in Delhi

Sisodia misleads Delhiites by visiting Okhla landfill site: Delhi BJP Chief

He said that since October 20, new garbage has stopped entering Okhla and 6000 metric tonne of inert (garbage ash) was being lifted daily from the Okhla landfill site

Finance dept creating roadblocks in bringing pro-people welfare projects

The Delhi Assembly's Petitions Committee on Wednesday accused the city government's Finance department of creating roadblocks in implementing pro-people welfare projects, such as Yamuna cleaning, laying of water pipelines and disbursal of pension to the elderly. Committee member Saurabh Bhardwaj said data entry operators engaged in hospitals for years had been sacked after the Finance department impeded the disbursal of their salaries. Government healthcare facilities have been working without them for six months, he said. Funds for the Delhi Jal Board have been frivolously withheld for the last six months, derailing essential projects such as cleaning of the Yamuna, drinking water pipelines and laying sewerage lines. Within the Social Welfare department, objections are repeatedly raised by the Finance department on pension of the elderly, due to which they have to wait for months for pension, Bhardwaj as quoted was saying in a statement. "The Finance department of the Delhi ...

Severe cold wave conditions persist in Delhi; likely to abate for 2 days

Fresh cold wave conditions shall prevail again from December 31 to January 1, 2023

Gave opportunity to both experience, youth in MCD leadership polls: BJP

"We will fight this election with a special policy and will work for the success of our candidates," Delhi BJP Working President Virendra Sachdeva said

Ammonia pollution in Yamuna affecting water supply in parts of Delhi: DJB

Water supply in parts of Delhi has been affected due to ammonia pollution in the Yamuna river, the Delhi Jal Board said on Tuesday. Operations at Wazirabad, Chandrawal, Bawana, Nangloi, Dwarka and Haiderpur water treatment plants (WTPs) have been hit. Water supply will remain affected till the situation improves, it said. Water will be available at low pressure in parts of south Delhi, central Delhi, west Delhi, northwest Delhi and southwest Delhi, the DJB said. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the acceptable maximum limit of ammonia in drinking water is 0.5 ppm. At present, the DJB can treat up to 0.9 ppm.

Delhi hospitals 'fully equipped' to fight any surge in Covid cases: Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said that the city government-run hospitals are "fully equipped" to fight any surge in Covid cases as mock drills were conducted at various medical facilities in the national capital to assess their preparedness to deal with the viral disease. Sisodia, who also holds the health portfolio, visited the Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital around noon to assess the drill, and later told reporters that the Delhi government is "prepared for any kind of emergency". "At the LNJP Hospital, there are 2,000 beds and 450 of those are dedicated to COVID-19. If need arises, we can dedicate all 2,000 beds for COVID-19... We can also increase this number by using nearby banquet halls and add an additional 500 beds for COVID-19 fight, so there would no shortage," he said. Sisodia said that the availability of medical oxygen at LNJP Hospital has been "increased manifold" as compared to the capacity last time. Five PS

Delhi govt is taking over DMRC's electric bus fleet to enhance connectivity

The Delhi government will soon take over the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's fleet of electric buses to strengthen last-mile connectivity, officials said. The Cabinet recently decided to take over 100 existing electric buses of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and also operate an additional 380 feeder buses under the Transport department in 2023. In a statement, the Delhi government said, "DMRC has been operating feeder e-buses in east and north clusters since December 2019 from Shastri Park and Majlis Park depots. These buses will be run by the Transport department through the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). "In addition, for the operation of additional 380 electric buses, six stations have been identified -- Welcome, Kohat Enclave, Rithala, Nangloi, Mundka and Dwarka." The depots at these locations will be constructed by the DMRC. The Transport department will operate the feeder buses on a per-kilometre basis where operators will be paid on the basis of

Delhi court grants bail to accused in extortion case post 3 months custody

A Delhi court has granted bail to an accused in an extortion case, saying "bail cannot be denied by taking merits into consideration as a punishment". Special Judge Shailender Malik granted the relief to one Anuj Srivastava, accused of extorting money from a 85-year-old man by threatening to falsely implicate him into a rape case. The judge allowed the bail application on a personal bond of Rs 30,000 with one surety in the like amount, and directed him not to leave the country without prior permission of court and not to influence or contact the witnesses, or tamper with evidence. "Having considered the submissions and taking note of the fact that accused/applicant is in judicial custody for last three months and no more required in the investigation. It is settled law that bail cannot be denied by taking merits into consideration as a punishment, whereas bail is a rule and denial thereof is an exception. "Taking into consideration period of custody of the accused, accused/applican

Delhi colder than Dharamsala; fog blots out sun in parts of northwest India

The national capital shivered on a severe cold day on Tuesday as its minimum temperature fell below that of Dehradun, Dharamsala and Nainital. With a high windchill factor -- a measure of the rate of heat loss from skin that is exposed to the air -- in play, the weather office predicted a cold day. The Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, logged a minimum temperature of 5.6 degrees Celsius -- a notch below normal. The maximum temperature was predicted to settle around 16 degrees Celsius. In comparison, the minimum temperature in Dehradun was recorded at 7 degrees Celsius, Dharamsala at 6.2 degrees Celsius and Nainital at 7.2 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists attributed the sharp drop in day temperatures to frigid north westerly winds barrelling through the plains and reduced sunshine due to foggy weather. Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change) at Skymet Weather, said a western disturbance led to a fresh spell of snowfall in the mountains

Orders of deploying govt teachers on Covid duty at Delhi airport withdrawn

However, the authority in the order has said that if needed, civil defence staff will be deployed to ensure Covid protocol and guidelines for travellers landing from abroad at the airport

Delhi hospitals to conduct mock drills today to check Covid readiness

Hospitals across Delhi will conduct mock drills on Tuesday to assess their preparedness, including availability of beds and manpower, to deal with any increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The Centre issued an advisory to this effect on Monday amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases in some countries. In the national capital, the drill will take place at Delhi government-run facilities like LNJP Hospital and private hospitals. Following the Centre's directions, a mock drill will be held in all hospitals on Tuesday to check their readiness for Covid management, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the health portfolio. Any gaps would be addressed immediately by the health department officials, he said. The mock drill will assess bed availability, manpower, referral resources, testing capacity, medical logistics, telemedicine services and medical oxygen availability, among other things. Real-time data on the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders and ventilators will be

Ahead of Delhi mayoral polls, Independent councillor Daral joins BJP

Ahead of Delhi mayoral polls scheduled to be held on January 6, Independent councillor Gajendra Daral on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Delhi's peak power demand clocks 4,803 MW, season's highest: Officials

Delhi's peak power demand clocked 4,803 MW on Monday, the highest this season, according to officials. The highest peak power demand comes amid plummeting mercury levels in the city. At 4,803 MW recorded at 10.22 am, Delhi's peak power demand this year is more than the peak power demand clocked in December 2021 and December 2020. "Green power will play an important role in meeting the power demand in the BSES areas in the winter months. Apart from the long-term agreements with power-plants, including hydro and Delhi-based gas fuel-generating stations, the BSES is also receiving 840 MW of solar power from SECI, 439 MW of wind power...," a BSES official said in a statement. "It is also being helped by 127 MW+ of rooftop solar power installed on rooftops in South, West, East and Central Delhi," he added. Apart from these, the BSES discoms are using avenues such as "banking" and "power exchange" and ensuring sufficient "spinning reserves" to dispose of surplus power as well as ensurin