Page 23 - Delhi

Big blow to AAP in Delhi: 13 councillors break away to form new party

Aam Aadmi Party suffers major setback in Delhi as 13 councillors, led by Mukesh Goel, resign and launch the Indraprastha Vikas Party

Noida society ravaged by storm: Shop flies off, high-rise windows collapse

Strong winds and dust swept through Noida, shattering windows, collapsing doors, and lifting a shop into the air in a viral video from JP Aman Society in Sector 151

Committed to complete pending work left behind by previous govt: Delhi CM

The BJP government in Delhi is committed to complete the pending work left behind by the previous regime in the public interest, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday. Inaugurating work for laying of water pipeline in her Shalimarbagh constituency, Gupta said that all the incompleted development work that were started during previous AAP government will be completed in a transparent manner. "Our priority is that public work should not stop. We are presently busy with clearing liabilities of the previous government like the incompleted work and pending dues," Gupta said. She said a scheme for providing grant to senior citizens associations was stopped by the AAP government, that is being revived by her government which is arranging to pay their dues. She said that in the first phase of development work in Shalimarbagh, water and sewer lines are being laid and repaired in various residential blocks and in the next phase, damaged roads and streets will be repaired and relaid.

Delhi govt to set up welfare board for gig workers, frame schemes

Delhi labour minister Kapil Mishra on Friday said the government will constitute a welfare board for gig and platform workers and frame schemes for their welfare. Mishra chaired a meeting with gig workers and representatives from major platforms and aggregators, including Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Uber, UrbanClap, and BigBasket, said an official statement. The session provided a platform for gig workers to voice their concerns directly to the government and aggregators. They highlighted pressing issues such as long working hours, inadequate payments, and the absence of an effective grievance redressal system, which have long impacted their livelihoods, it said. "All these problems will be addressed with the cooperation of platforms and aggregators. The government will constitute a welfare board for gig and platform workers and will frame schemes for their welfare," he said. He also assured the platforms and aggregators that they will not face harassment from inspectors or any other

Our govt will bring modernisation plan for mandis: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said that her government would bring a modernisation plan for mandis, a day after she visited the Azadpur Mandi. "There are lack of facilities in mandis across Delhi. The previous AAP government did not do anything for providing facilities to mandis. There are many labourers and traders working here but there is no cleanliness and no safety," she charged. Gupta alleged corruption in functioning of the mandis and promised to bring a modernisation plan for them. "Our government will bring a modernisation plan for mandis. We will work towards making tight arrangements for security of these mandis," she told reporters.

Delhi to conduct cloud-seeding trials with each flight lasting for 1.5 hrs

Delhi will conduct five cloud-seeding trials, each on a separate day, with flights operating for about one to one-and-a-half hours for injecting chemicals into clouds, an official said on Monday. They said the trials could be conducted in quick succession, possibly within a week, depending on weather conditions. "If suitable weather is observed, we may conduct all five trials within a week or with gaps of a day or two. The schedule will depend on cloud availability," they said. Cloud-seeding, also known as artificial rain, is a technique to induce rainfall by dispersing specific substances into clouds, which eventually leads to rain if other weather conditions are favourable. An official from the Environment Department, who requested anonymity, told PTI that the locations for the trials have not been finalised yet. IIT Kanpur, which is leading the experiment from planning to execution, will select the sites based on various scientific and logistical factors. He added that the tria

Electricity bills of Delhi consumers to be hiked by 7-10% in May-Jun period

The electricity bills of power consumers in Delhi will be hiked by 7-10 per cent in the May-June period due to revision of PPAC charged by the discoms, officials said on Sunday. The power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) refers to rise in fuel (coal, gas) costs incurred by the generation companies which is recovered by discoms from the consumers. It is calculated as percentage of fixed charge and energy charge (units consumed) components of the electricity bill. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) in its separate orders earlier this month allowed the three discoms to recover the PPAC of third quarter of 2024-25 in the May-June 2024 period. The PPAC allowed are 7.25 per cent for BRPL, 8.11 per cent for BYPL and 10.47 percent for TPDDL. No reaction was available from the discoms on the increase in PPAC allowed by the DERC. The United Residents of Delhi (URD), an umbrella body of residents welfare associations in the city, slammed the move as "arbitrary". "The proces

Delhi excise department targets eateries selling liquor without licence

The Delhi government has intensified action against hotels, clubs and restaurants serving liquor without necessary excise licenses, officials said on Saturday. Raids were conducted at 40 premises and over two dozen FIRs have been registered in the last few months, they said. An Excise department officer said that between January-April this year, the enforcement teams raided 40 eateries in various parts of the city that were selling liquor without excise license. The department also registered 24 FIRs in this regard. The city has around 1,000 hotels, clubs and restaurants that serve liquor without proper licenses, he said. A significant number of unlicensed premises are operating across the city without obtaining proper licenses. The raids were conducted across Delhi, including in West Delhi and North West areas, and 24 restaurants were found serving liquor without liquor license, officials said. These unauthorized operations are causing the government revenue losses as they don't

India-Pakistan tensions escalate: What's closed, who's on leave? Details

India intensifies military and civilian readiness as cross-border tensions with Pakistan escalate, prompting widespread closures, red alerts, and travel disruptions

Supreme Court upholds decision to keep DND flyway toll free for all

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to review its decision upholding that Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway would remain toll free in a respite to lakhs of daily commuters. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh dismissed the plea seeking review of the December 20, 2024 verdict on a plea of Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd (NTBCL), a private firm running the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway. The firm referred to the CAG report relied upon by the apex court and said it had some positive remarks on the company, which the order did not reflect. The bench told the company's counsel that it had "minted a lot of money". The top court, however, while referring to another plea of senior NTBCL official Pradeep Puri for deletion of personal remarks against him reportedly made in the verdict on the basis of CAG's findings, said it would reproduce the report. Puri's counsel said CAG did not make any personal comments against him and the paragraph in the verdict, as a result, could be .

Enhanced security measures in place at airports; operations normal

Delhi airport has said that operations are normal and some flights have been impacted due to changing airspace conditions and heightened security. In the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has put in place enhanced security arrangements. In a post on X, DIAL said operations remain normal at the airport while some flights are impacted due to changing airspace conditions and heightened security. "Please check with your airline for the latest updates. We urge everyone to rely only on official sources and avoid sharing unverified information. We're working closely with all stakeholders to minimise any inconvenience," DIAL said. On Thursday, at least 90 flights to and from the Delhi airport were cancelled. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

JNU teachers begin month-long protest over promotions, probation delays

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) has announced a series of peaceful demonstrations throughout May to highlight long-pending issues related to faculty promotions, confirmations and probation extensions. There was no immediate response available from the university administration. Calling the campaign a "Month of Protests," JNUTA said the move comes after repeated delays in the processing of Career Advancement Scheme promotions and confirmations. The association also flagged concerns over the extension of probation periods of some faculty members, which it described as departure from established norms. "These unresolved matters have had an adverse impact on the morale of the faculty and reflect larger procedural and governance concerns within the university," JNUTA said in a statement. The protest will begin on May 8 with a mass delegation rallying to the office of the dean of the School of Language, Literature and Cultural Studies. Similar demonstratio

Nationwide mock drills begin; Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata test crisis readiness

Sirens blared, crowds evacuated as India launched civil defence mock drills in 244 districts - Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, and more simulate real-time emergency response

Only BS-VI CNG goods vehicles to enter Delhi from Nov 2025, Centre tells SC

Only BS-VI CNG, LNG, EV goods vehicles to be allowed into Delhi from November 1, 2025; ban will not apply to vehicles registered in Delhi, Centre tells SC

Civil defence mock drill in Delhi on May 7: Here are the dos and don'ts

Delhi's big emergency drill, "Operation Abhyaas," will be held on Wednesday to prepare residents for air-raid warnings, blackouts, and more

Civil defence drill in Delhi today: Here's what residents should know

Delhi is set to hold a large-scale civil defence mock drill today with air raid alerts, blackout simulations, and evacuation exercises amid rising India-Pakistan tensions

Mock drills across India on May 7: Will banks, schools remain open?

Mock drills in India: Will banks and schools stay open or face disruptions on May 7 for civil defence mock drills?

Lok Adalat to settle disputed bills, fines in Delhi: How to file appeal

Citizens get chance to resolve civil cases, including matrimonial, at district courts 'on the spot'

Delhi Commission for Women to be revived soon, says CM Rekha Gupta

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), which has been inactive for some time, will be revived soon. Addressing the gathering at Rashtriya Mahila Aapke Ghar Jan Sunwai, CM Gupta said that women in distress look to the government for support, and currently, nearly 1,500 such cases are pending. "That's why the Delhi Commission for Women...will be reactivated and will begin functioning again," Gupta said. At the event, organised by the National Women Commission, she also shared a recent complaint received during the public hearing at her residence, where a parent reported that some boys had been harassing their daughters despite a formal complaint being lodged. "Such people will keep making mistakes, but it is our responsibility to take action against them," she said. To enhance women's safety, CM Gupta said 50,000 CCTV cameras will be installed at identified dark spots across the city. She explained that dark spots are not just areas wit

ED arrests 'absconding' ex-Haryana Cong MLA Dharam Chhoker from Delhi hotel

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested "absconding" former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker from a 5-star hotel in Delhi following a brief scuffle, agency officials said Monday. The 61-year-old ex-legislator was taken into custody from the 'Grappa Bar' of the Shangri-La hotel in central Delhi shortly after 9 pm on Sunday. ED officials said an "intelligence input" was received by them around 8:30 pm on Sunday that Chhoker was present at the hotel bar along with some people. An agency official soon reached the spot in pursuance of seven non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against him apart from a proclaimed offender notification issued by a special PMLA court of Gurugram, they said. Officials alleged Chhoker, on being confronted by the ED officer, started rushing towards the exit. The officer along with ED Gurugram zone joint director Navaneet Aggarwal, who was also present in the hotel, chased the ex-MLA and pinned him down. They alleged Chhoker tried to hit the ED offic