Page 42 - Delhi

Delhi's noise pollution levels show mixed trend compared to last year

Delhiites burst firecrackers on Diwali despite a ban on it but noise pollution levels in the city showed a mixed trend as compared to last year, a pollution board said. According to a report by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi's noise level recorded on the day of Diwali saw a rise as compared to last year. The readings, measured in decibels (dB) from 6 pm to midnight, revealed that Karol Bagh recorded the highest noise level in the city, with an average of 88.7 dB, up from 84.5 dB in 2023. Alipur and Najafgarh also saw a noticeable rise, with noise levels reaching 58.0 dB and 58.3 dB respectively, marking an increase of 5 per cent and 8 per cent compared to 2023. In an effort to combat pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a comprehensive ban on firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale, and use. Among residential areas, Mundka recorded a 6 per cent rise in noise levels while Ashok Vihar saw a slight dip. Commer

Delhi air quality stable despite pollution norms violation, says DPCC

Delhi's pollution board claimed that the air quality index did not show any significant change this Diwali, even after many flouted pollution norms. According to a report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 328 on Thursday, rising to 360, a day after Diwali, which avoided a severe spike. The report stated that the PM2.5 levels decreased by 4 per cent as compared to Diwali last year. While the PM10 levels, consisting of particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or less in diameter, increased by 11 per cent. PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller, and are the greatest risk to health. The acceptable annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data claimed that Delhi recorded its most polluted Diwali in three years. On Thursday, the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 330, ...

Delhi records 300 fire-related incidents on Diwali, none life-threatening

Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg said that between midnight and 6 am, 158 fire-related incidents cases were reported and added that there was no major fire as they had increased fire force

Delhi residents defy firecracker ban, light up sky with Diwali festivities

The Delhi sky lit up on Thursday as people celebrated Diwali defying a ban on firecrackers. Areas including Lajpat Nagar, Kalkaji, Chhatarpur, Jaunapur, East of Kailash, Saket, Rohini, Dwarka, Punjabi Bagh, Vikas Puri, Dilshad Garden, Burari and many other neighbourhoods of east and west Delhi saw firecrackers being burst. At 9 pm, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 327, with Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aaya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Mathura Road, IGI Airport, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Rohini, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Najafgarh and other weather-monitoring stations witnessing "very poor" air quality, according to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the National AQI published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). With the 24-hour AQI recorded at 328 at 4 pm, Delhi experienced its worst air quality on Diwali in the last three years. Following the practice of the last four years, the city ...

Diwali 2024: People across India celebrate the festival of lights with pomp

Colourful lights decked up buildings and diyas (earthen lamps) dotted houses as people across the country celebrated Diwali with great enthusiasm on Thursday. In the national capital, the air quality continued to deteriorate, remaining in the 'very poor' category, with levels expected to worsen to the 'severe' category due to bursting of firecrackers at night. Keeping up his tradition of celebrating the festival with soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sir Creek near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat's Kutch district and offered sweets to jawans. Modi said India cannot compromise on even an "inch" of land on its borders, adding the people believe in the strength of its armed forces for defending the country. "In the past, attempts were made to turn this region into a battlefield. The enemy has set its eyes on this region for a long time. But we are not worried as you are guarding the nation. Our enemy also knows it well," he asserted. "People of India feel their country is

77% women feel unsafe in Delhi buses at night, reveals Greenpeace report

Over 75 per cent of women feel unsafe commuting in Delhi buses after dark, even as the city government's fare-free bus travel scheme has crossed the milestone of 100 crore 'pink' tickets issued to women, a report said. In its latest report 'Riding the Justice Route' report, Greenpeace India, a non-governmental organisation, said 75 per cent of the surveyed women have seen significant savings from the 'Pink Ticket' scheme, with many redirecting these funds to household needs, emergencies, and healthcare. Additionally, 25 per cent of the surveyed women have increased their use of public buses, and more women who previously avoided buses have become regular riders since the scheme's launch in October 2019, the report said. However, safety issues persist, with 77 per cent of women feeling unsafe on buses after dark due to poor lighting and infrequent bus schedules, it pointed out. Many women have also reported incidents of harassment, especially in overcrowded buses, it added. Under t

Not right to do politics on public health issue: Kejriwal to PM Modi

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing politics over the issue of public health in the national capital. Kejriwal's remarks came after Prime Minister Modi criticised the Delhi and West Bengal governments for failing to implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme out of "political interests". Modi said he was disappointed with the state of free healthcare for the elderly in the two states and called it a missed opportunity to serve the senior citizens. Addressing a public gathering at New Delhi's All India Institute of Ayurveda, Modi said, "I apologise to all the elderly aged above 70 years in Delhi and West Bengal. I hear your pain, but due to the state governments' decisions, I cannot help you." Reacting to Modi's allegations, Kejriwal said speaking wrongly about the issue of public health and indulging in politics on it is not right. In a long post on X, Kejriwal said PM Modi should study the Delhi model of healthcare and

Traffic snarls in Delhi as people throng to mkts for shopping on Dhanteras

Traffic in the national capital came to a standstill on Thursday as throngs of shoppers flooded the markets to celebrate Dhanteras, creating significant delays and inconvenience to commuters. Commuters took to X saying the traffic was heavy at several places including Badarpur flyover, CV Raman Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Badarpur Mehrauli Road, Taimur Nagar-Maharani Bagh Road, Ashram and Yamuna Vihar. Sunil Yadav, a legal advisory in a private firm, said, "The traffic was heavy from Barahpullah flyover towards Sarai Kale Khan. The vehicles were crawling on the road on that particular stretch." Another commuter Vivek Singh said the traffic was massive between Madhuban Chowk to Rohini East Metro station. The Delhi Police has said they have made elaborated arrangements for smooth flow of traffic. A senior traffic police officer said they have intensified checking on the road. "We have deployed personnel on bikes to check the encroachment on busy roads which could lead to traffic congestion

Diljit Dosanjh’s concert leaves Delhi’s JLN Stadium in chaos

After the conclusion of Diljit Dosanjh's 2-day 'Dil-luminati' concert, athletes have complained of manhandling of the stadium facilities where the concert was held.

Diljit's concert leaves JLN Stadium in a mess, athletes' training impacted

The venue, which serves as a primary training ground for athletes, was littered with garbage, beer bottles, and broken equipment

Cong to organise month-long 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' from Nov 8 ahead of polls

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Monday said a 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' will be organised next month on the lines of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, to interact with the people of the city and learn about their issues and problems. Party sources said senior Congress Gandhi is likely to attend it in the first phase. The march will start on November 8 from Rajghat and conclude on December 4, ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi. During the launch event of the 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' at the Constitution Club here, Yadav said it will have four phases. Gandhi launched the over 4,000-km Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar on September 7, 2022. It went on for a period of 145 days, covering 12 states and 2 Union territories. The yatra culminated on January 30, 2023. The Congress also organised a Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra during January-March 2024. Yadav said the 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' will begin from Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat on November 8. "During the

Parts of Delhi to face water shortage till Nov 1: Delhi Jal Board

The Delhi Jal Board on Sunday announced water shortage till November 1 in several parts of the national capital due to high ammonia content in the Yamuna river. Several parts of east, northeast and south Delhi and areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council will be affected, it said. "The raw water source of Delhi's 110 MGD (million gallons per day) Bhagirathi Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and 140 MGD Sonia Vihar WTP is the Upper Ganga Canal, Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Due to scheduled annual maintenance across the Upper Ganga Canal by the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department from October 12 to 31, the canal was closed from Haridwar on October 12 midnight," the Jal Board said. "During this closure period, the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department and the UP Jal Nigam carry out repair and maintenance. Subsequently, Ganga water supply to these WTPs has been stopped," it added. The WTPs are now dependent on the Yamuna as an alternative source of raw water till October 31. But due to high .

Delhi's AQI woes: Why's Pakistan blamed for Delhi-NCR's pollution crisis?

Delhi's air quality remains dire, with an Air Quality Index of 328, despite ongoing pollution mitigation efforts like banning firecrackers and road watering

Mayoral polls to be held during MCD House meeting next month, says Oberoi

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayoral polls, which have been pending for almost six months, will be held during the House meeting next month, Mayor Shelly Oberoi announced on Monday as she adjourned the current session. Soon after Oberoi arrived in the House during the day, opposition party councillors raised slogans over issues such as pollution and the delay in the mayoral polls, leading to a ruckus. The councillors demanded to hold the mayoral election, which is reserved for a Dalit candidate in the third term and has been pending since April. Amid the commotion, Oberoi said, "Be assured the elections will be held in the next meeting. Right now, let us focus on the agenda to be discussed." However, as opposition councillors continued to raise objections, Oberoi passed several proposals and adjourned the House until the next meeting. The House commenced 45 minutes later than its scheduled time of 11 am due to the mayor's late arrival, which drew protests from several

Despite ban, 18% NCR families plan to burst crackers this Diwali: Survey

Ahead of Diwali, a survey conducted in Delhi-NCR has revealed that 18 per cent of the respondents plan to burst firecrackers during the festival of lights, while 55 per cent don't intend to do so. The survey conducted by LocalCircles with a sample size 10,526 said, "Among those who responded to the query, 55 per cent said they will not burn firecrackers as they cause pollution, whereas 19 per cent said they would like to burn crackers, and 9 per cent said they will burn crackers. "Nine per cent of the respondents said they will burn crackers and they know how and from where to get them, while 8 per cent did not give a clear answer. To sum up, 18 per cent of Delhi-NCR families surveyed are likely to burn crackers this Diwali." Out of 10,526 people, 68 per cent of respondents were men while the remaining 32 per cent were women, it added. As per the survey, some residents showed indifference towards the government advisories regarding firecrackers, as evidenced by the significant use

Next 15 days crucial to tackle air pollution in Delhi, says Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai emphasised the urgent need to tackle air pollution across northern India, calling the next 15 days "crucial". Following a key meeting with the Central government on Friday, Rai held a press conference on Saturday. The meeting, attended by Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Bhupender Yadav, along with environment ministers from neighbouring states, aimed to assess and address the worsening air quality in the region. Rai expressed concern over the delay in this year's meeting and said, "Last year, a similar meeting was held in August, allowing us more time to strategise. "This year's meeting took place in the last week of October. Had it been conducted three months earlier, we could have tackled the pollution problem more effectively," Rai said. According to Rai, Punjab has shown a promising downtrend in the stubble burning incidents, with only 1,500 cases reported this year compared to nearly 5,000 cases in 2022. However, he noted an upti

Delhi HC calls for random checks to enforce auto fare meter compliance

The petitioner Anand Mishra stated that fare meters have not been operational since 2018, and the respondent authorities have failed to take corrective action

Delhi riots case: Expeditiously hear Sharjeel Imam bail plea, says SC

The Supreme Court on Friday told the Delhi High Court to expeditiously hear the bail plea of student activist Sharjeel Imam in an Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) case related to Delhi riots which took place in February 2020. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and S C Sharma said it was not inclined to entertain the plea, which also sought bail under Article 32 of the Constitution. Imam's counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, said the bail plea had been pending since 2022 while clarifying he was not pressing for bail at the present stage. The top court noted the high court would be hearing the case on November 25. "This being the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the constitution, we are not inclined to entertain the same. However, petitioner shall be at liberty to request the high court to hear the bail application as expeditiously as possible preferably on November 25, as fixed by the high court. The high court shall consider the said request," held the bench.

Declaring Jama Masjid protected monument will have big impact: ASI to HC

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that declaring the historic Jama Masjid a "protected monument" would have a "substantial impact" and no steps have been taken in this regard so far. In an affidavit filed in response to PILs on the issue, the ASI said once a monument is declared a protected monument, certain regulations and prohibitions in the area around it come into force. It further said that although the Mughal-era Jama Masjid is currently under the protection and guardianship of Delhi Waqf Board, the ASI has been undertaking conservation and preservation work there. A bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh orally said it was not inclined to declare Jama Masjid a "protected monument" in view of the stand of the ASI and ordered the petitioners to file their notes with respect to the steps that should be taken for the protection of the historic structure. "They (ASI) are saying there is a hesitation. There is an impact of declaring

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