Page 176 - Delhi

Delhi logs 61 new Covid-19 cases in a day; positivity rate rises to 3.61%

Delhi on Monday recorded 61 fresh Covid cases with an increased positivity rate of 3.61 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department here. No new fatality due to the viral disease was reported. With these new cases, the national capital's Covid case tally has climbed to 20,04,963 while the death toll stands at 26,506, the department said in its latest bulletin. The new cases were detected from 1,689 tests conducted the previous day, it said. Delhi on Sunday recorded 115 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 1.59 per cent. On Saturday, it saw 135 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 2.12 per cent. The day before, the city reported 112 cases with a positivity rate of 1.75 per cent. Delhi on Thursday logged 130 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 1.84 per cent. The city government did not issue a bulletin on Wednesday. On Tuesday, it reported 97 new Covid cases with a positivity rate of 1.41 per cent along with one fatality. The number of active Covid c

CBI refutes allegations made by Sisodia that he was threatened to leave AAP

The CBI on Monday refuted the allegation levelled by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that during his questioning in the Delhi excise scam case, he was threatened to quit the AAP. In a statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that Sisodia was examined strictly on the allegations in the FIR and the evidence collected so far during the course of investigation. "His statement will be verified in due course and further action taken as per requirements of investigation," the agency said. The CBI said some sections of the media have aired a video in which, after leaving the CBI office, Sisodia has stated on camera that during his questioning, he was threatened to leave his political party and similar such insinuations. "The CBI strongly refutes these allegations and reiterates that examination of Sisodia was carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR. The investigation of the case will continue as per the law

New Delhi: Traffic to be affected due to 4-day Interpol General Assembly

Traffic will be affected in the national capital for four days, starting Tuesday, due to the 90th Annual General Assembly of the Interpol at Pragati Maidan. Delhi Traffic Police has advised organisations in Lutyens' Delhi to either allow work from home for their employees or opt for staggered working hours for four days, in light of the event. The meeting is taking place in India after a gap of about 25 years. it was last held in 1997. The traffic police said the commuters travelling around the New Delhi district could encounter delays and may wish to consider alternative routes during the period specified. The traffic police stressed it is important to reduce the traffic volume on the roads in the New Delhi district and this can be achieved with support from corporations, organisations and individuals. "Non-essential staff members can be directed to work from home, employees can be advised to use public transport and working hours can be staggered. Individuals can cooperate by us

Ahead of Diwali, Delhi's Air Quality Index dips to 'poor' category

Just a week ahead of Diwali, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital has dipped to the 'poor' category, and in some areas it was recorded as 'severe'.

Ahead of CBI questioning, Sisodia says 'fake' case lodged against him

Ahead of his questioning by the CBI in the excise policy matter, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday claimed that the case against him was "fake" and linked the development with campaigning in poll-bound Gujarat While extending support to his deputy, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal said Sisodia was going to be arrested in a bid to stop him from campaigning in Gujarat. At his Mathura Road residence, Sisodia sought blessings of his mother as he prepared to leave for the CBI office. Several AAP leaders, including party MP Sanjay Singh and MLAs Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, were present at his home. In a series of tweets, Sisodia said, "A completely fake case has been prepared against me. Nothing was found in the raid at my residence, search of my bank lockers and enquiries made at my village. It is a totally fake case." Sisodia is set to appear before the CBI for questioning at 11 AM in connection with alleged irregularities in implementation of

Delhi has become the crime capital: Deputy CM Manish sisodia writes to LG

Citing the criminal incidents rising in the national capital over a few days, Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Sunday wrote a letter to LG Vinay Kumar Saxena

Delhi reports 115 fresh Covid-19 cases; active tally stands at 478

Delhi on Sunday recorded 115 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 1.59 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department here. No new fatality was reported due to the viral disease. With these new cases, the capital's Covid tally has climbed to 20,04,902 while the death toll stands at 26,506, the department said in its latest bulletin. The new cases were detected from 7,243 tests conducted the previous day, it said. Delhi on Saturday recorded 135 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 2.12 per cent. On Friday, it saw 112 new cases with a positivity rate of 1.75 per cent. On Thursday, the city recorded 130 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 1.84 per cent. The city government did not issue a bulletin on Wednesday. Delhi on Tuesday logged 97 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 1.41 per cent along with one fatality. On Monday, the city had recorded 67 Covid cases with the positivity rate rising to 3.1 per cent. The number of active Covid cases in Del

Delhi becoming crime capital, need to maintain public order: Sisodia to LG

In view of a murder incident in Baljit Nagar, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena appealing to him to take cognisance of his constitutional duty of maintaining public order. In the letter, he said the crime graph in the city has increased and it seems that Delhi has become the capital of crime. He also mentioned the worsening law and order situation in Delhi. "The constitution has given the responsibility to maintain law and order in Delhi to you (LG) and the police directly reports to you. I request you to kindly pay some attention towards this," Sisodia said in the letter. "If you dedicate some time in streamlining the deteriorating law and order situation in the city then it will benefit the general public of Delhi," he added. Sisodia also listed a number of recent crime incidents that took place in the city. He said two days back some goons battered a youth to death in broad daylight in Baljit Nagar similarly last wee

Interpol event to affect Traffic in central Delhi from Oct 18-21: Police

Vehicular traffic on Janpath, Ashoka Road and Barakhamba Road, among other roads in central Delhi, will remain affected from October 18 to 21 as the city will host the 90th Annual General Assembly of the Interpol at Pragati Maidan, police said on Sunday. Delegations from 195 countries will attend the event, they said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it on October 18 and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the valedictory function on October 21. The traffic police said the commuters travelling in the vicinity of New Delhi district could encounter delays and may wish to consider alternative routes during the period specified. According to the traffic advisory, the delegates will stay in seven hotels -- The Lalit, The Imperial, Shangri La, Le Meridien, The Oberoi, Hyatt Regency and The Ashok -- and travel to Pragati Maidan, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the airport. Various traffic measures will be put in place to ensure smooth transportation for the

Karnataka CM Bommai to visit Delhi amid possibility of cabinet expansion

With Assembly elections just months away Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said that he would be visiting Delhi to discuss the cabinet expansion with BJP National President JP Nadda and other leaders

Spike in Dengue cases across India, October most vulnerable month

Delhi and many other states including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have seen a sudden spurt in dengue cases in the last couple of days

Over 10,000 bottles of illicit liquor destroyed in Delhi: Excise dept

The Delhi government's Excise department on Saturday destroyed more than 10,000 bottles containing 5,516 litres of smuggled liquor seized by its enforcement teams in the recent months, officials said. According to the Excise department, 3,267 litres of illicit liquor was destroyed in Mayur Vihar, 1,285 litres in Sarita Vihar and 964 litres in Tilak Nagar. A large number of liquor bottles were spread on concrete stretches and a road roller was used to crush them, they said. "Seizure of liquor smuggled into Delhi and its destruction is a routine exercise," said a senior Excise department official. The enforcement activity by the department will pick up further once Delhi Police personnel are deputed at its Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB), the officials said. Thirty nine police personnel deployed at EIB were repatriated to Delhi Police in August. The move came on the heels of a CBI probe recommended by the LG VK Saxena into alleged irregularities in implementation of now scrapped Ex

Delhi: CAQM advises implementation of air pollution norms, warns of action

Intensifying its actions in the battle against air pollution in Delhi-NCR in the coming days, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) urged all concerned including Industries and Project Proponents of Construction and Demolition (C & D) sites to strictly follow the statutory directions issued by the Commission, said the officials on Saturday.The general masses have also been advised to strictly follow the steps highlighted in the Citizen Charter in each stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the coming days.The 40 inspection teams/ flying squads constituted by the Commission are under directions to intensify inspections, supervise and rigorously monitor enforcement and compliance of statutory directions issued by the Commission to ameliorate the air quality of Delhi-NCR.These flying squads will conduct surprise inspections and field-level incognito checks at industrial units, C & D sites, commercial/ residential units, air ...

Sisodia calls for adopting Delhi electricity model across country

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday called for adopting the Delhi electricity model across the country, observing that focus should be on providing affordable or free supply to people, an official statement said. Participating in the state power ministers' meet at Udaipur, Sisodia said making electricity prices flexible like that of petrol and diesel will prove to be harmful for the people and power tariff will never come under control, it said. "If the electricity rates fluctuate on the basis of prices of other commodities in the market, this step of the central government can prove to be dangerous and all the burden will come on the common people," the statement quoting Sisodia said. In the 21st century, electricity is a basic necessity and in such a situation, the government's focus should be on providing 24-hour power supply at affordable rates or for free to the poor public, he said. People pay taxes to the government and expect good education, health, electricity,

Delhi BJP leaders hold protest outside AAP HQ against Gopal Italia

Delhi BJP leaders and workers including its Mahila Morcha activists staged a protest outside Aam Aadmi Party headquarters here on Friday, asking for removal of the AAP's Gujarat chief Gopal Italia. The AAP leaders have crossed all limits of decency as was exemplified by Italia through his "abusive" language targeting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleged Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. "AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal should remove such leaders from the party and apologise to the countrymen for their foul language," Bidhuri said. Delhi BJP vice presidents Virendra Sachdeva and Rajan Tiwari, Mahila Morcha president Yogita Singh, incharge of the Morcha Barkha Singh and other leaders of the party participated in the protest. Italia was on Thursday detained here for nearly three hours by the Delhi Police after he appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in connection with his alleged comments against Modi amid protests by AAP members outside

Delhi Excise policy case: ED raids 25 new locations in national capital

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided at least 25 locations in the national capital as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into the now-scrapped Delhi Excise policy, officials said. The premises covered under the search operation belong to private entities linked to liquor dealership and distributorship, they said. The federal agency has conducted multiple raids in this case till now and had also arrested Sameer Mahandru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company Indospirit, last month in the case. The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR that had named Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as an accused among others. The scheme came under the scanner after the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22. He had also suspended 11 excise officials in the matter.

CP smog tower has noticeable impact on Delhi air pollution: Gopal Rai

The smog tower at Connaught Place here has a noticeable impact on air pollution up to a distance of 300 metres, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday. Within a radius of 50 metres, the giant air purifier is able to cut down air pollution by 70 to 80 per cent. It reduces pollution levels by 15 to 20 per cent beyond 300 metres, he told reporters. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the over 24-metre-high smog tower at Connaught Place on August 23 last year. The city government had formed a team of experts from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, IIT-Bombay, NBCC and Tata Projects to study its impact over two years. Officials had earlier said the Rs 20 crore smog tower can purify the air in a one-km radius at a rate of around 1,000 cubic metres per second. Rai said the construction of more smog towers in the capital would depend on the success of the pilot project. The smog tower at Baba Kharak Singh Marg has 5,000 coarse filters and 5,000 fine filters develo

Delhi govt allocates Rs 25 cr for Chhath Puja celebrations at 1,100 sites

The Delhi government has made grand preparations for Chhath Puja at 1,100 sites and allocated Rs 25 crore for the festival, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. Chhath will be celebrated on October 30 and 31. During a digital media briefing, the chief minister said his government has made preparations such as washrooms, ambulances, first-aid and power backup at the sites. He stressed that the Delhi Police was fully supporting in the security aspect and CCTV cameras would be installed at various locations. "For the last two years, the festivities were affected due to the pandemic. Since the formation of our government in 2014, the celebrations have become bigger. Earlier before we came to power, the government would allocate Rs 2.5 crore for making preparations at 69 sites, but now, the budget has grown to 25 crore and the sites to 1,100," Kejriwal said. He urged people to pray to Chhathi Maiyya not just for themselves but for the country for relief from the coronavirus.

Moderate air quality in Delhi with min temperature at 19 degrees Celsius

Delhiites on Friday woke up to clear sky with the minimum temperature settling at 19 degrees Celsius. The weather office has predicted the maximum temperature is expected to settle at 31 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity was recorded at 84 per cent at 8:30 am. The minimum and maximum temperature readings on Thursday were 18.5 degrees Celsius and 30.3 degrees Celsius respectively. The air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded in the moderate (128) category around 9:15 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.

Work underway on Delhi's stretches marked for redevelopment, beautification

The Delhi government has identified several stretches of roads for redevelopment and beautification under its streetscaping project