Page 71 - Delhi

AIIMS, Delhi launches Ayushman Suvidha Kendras to enhance AB-PMJAY services

These Kendras will operate on a 24x7 basis, providing a single point of contact for beneficiaries

MCD to set up 100 debris collection points across Delhi to curb pollution

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is in the process of establishing 100 debris collection points in the national capital to mitigate pollution, officials said on Saturday. While 35 of them are already operational in various zones, locations have been identified for another 49, the MCD said in a statement. According to reports, construction activity is a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi. "To address this issue, the MCD, in collaboration with A-PAG and C&D (construction and demolition) plant concessionaires, has established debris collection points across the Delhi region," the statement said. In the initial phase, the MCD conducted a pilot project in 10 wards of the West zone, establishing three dedicated collection sites. This initiative yielded "remarkable results", showing a significant reduction of 46 per cent in illegal dumping of debris, the statement said. Expanding on this, the MCD is currently in the process of establishing nearly 100 collection points, .

Recarpeted second runway at Delhi airport now operational, says DIAL

Delhi airport operator DIAL on Saturday said the re-carpeted runway RW 10/28 is operational now. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the country's largest airport, now has four operational runways. In recent times, the airport has witnessed fog-induced operational disruptions that resulted in flight delays, cancellations, diversions as well as passengers facing long waiting hours and congestion. The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said the re-carpeting and refurbishment work of RW 10/28, also known as the second runway, has been successfully completed and handed over to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) for commercial operations from February 3. "DIAL had undertaken the much-needed re-carpeting work of the 3,813 metre-long and 45 metre-wide second runway in the middle of September 2023, just after the conclusion of the historic G20 Summit. Re-carpeting work of the runway was completed in December 2023, after which Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) operationalisation was

65,000 'ghost patients' underwent tests at Mohalla clinics in Delhi: ACB

A preliminary inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has revealed that 65000 ghost patients underwent pathological tests at the Mohalla clinics through private labs during 11 months of 2023, officials said on Saturday. Two private labs conducted nearly 22 lakh tests during February-December, 2023, out of which 65000 were found to be fake, they said. The labs were paid Rs 4.63 crore by the government for the tests conducted by them, they said. Last month, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the reports of irregularities in lab tests conducted at the Mohalla clinics. The ministry of home affairs has directed the CBI to undertake investigation in the matter. The private labs conducted tests allegedly on ghost patients who never visited any Mohalla Clinic, claimed an ACB official. "It also emerged that the Lab Management Information System (LIMS), containing the name and mobile number of the patients, was also developed, operated and

Solar panels on rooftops along Delhi-Meerut RRTS to cut emissions: NCRTC

The NCRTC is installing solar panels on rooftop spaces along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS, which is expected to yield 12.5 million units of solar energy and reduce 11,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, officials said on Saturday. A solar capacity of about three MW has already been installed over the platform sheds of RRTS stations at Sahibabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot station and Duhai workshop of the priority section, which will be able to meet the auxiliary load requirement of these locations, they said. "The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is poised to install about 11 megawatt of solar capacity over its rooftop spaces along the 82 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor. This initiative is expected to yield 12.5 million units of solar energy annually and a reduction of 11,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually," an official said. Further solar power plants will be installed at the remaining stations of

Delhi govt alleges step-motherly treatment on Rs 1,168 cr Budget allocation

The Union Territory of Delhi was allocated Rs 1,168 crore in the interim budget for 2024-25 on Thursday, the same as in 2023-24, with the AAP government accusing the BJP-led Centre of meting out "step-motherly" treatment to the national capital. The transfer to Delhi from the Union home ministry included Rs 1,168 crore under the revenue head and Rs 0.01 crore under the capital head. In the 2022-23 budget, Delhi was allocated Rs 960 crore. The amount was increased to Rs 1,168.01 crore in 2023-24 and it remains the same for 2024-25. There were no grants in lieu of its share in central taxes and duties for Delhi. It was Rs 325 crore in the 2022-23 budget. The grants in return of Delhi's share in the pool of central taxes and duties were clubbed under the "central assistance to Union Territories" in the budget estimates of 2023-24 and have remained so in the interim budget for 2024-25. The allocation under central assistance to Delhi in the 2024-25 budget estimates was Rs 951 crore li

Delhi's average maximum temperature from January 1-30 lowest in 13 years

The average maximum temperature in Delhi this month till January 30 stood at 17.7 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 13 years, according to official data till Tuesday. The average minimum temperature in the national capital during the same period was pegged at 6.2 degrees Celsius, the second lowest in 13 years, the data showed. Fog enveloped parts of Delhi on Tuesday morning and the Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius around 9.30 am. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 100 per cent, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. The maximum temperature settled at 21.4 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. It was recorded at 22.6 degrees Celsius on Monday. Late on Tuesday, a senior IMD official shared the year-wise data on the average maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi for January, with reference to readings recorded at the Safdarjung observatory -- the official marker for the national capital. The average maximum temperatur

Delhi's AQI to turn 'severe', Centre holds off implementing stricter curbs

The Centre on Monday refrained from implementing stricter measures to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR, even though air quality in the region is predicted to turn 'severe' on January 30. This is the third time since January 24 that the central government has decided against employing disruptive measures to control air pollution. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 356 at 4 pm on Monday. It is likely to deteriorate to the 'severe' category (AQI above 400) on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. If the AQI breaches the 400-mark, authorities in Delhi-NCR are required to invoke stricter curbs under Stage III of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control air pollution.

Consumers installing solar panels at home to get zero power bills: Delhi CM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that under the Delhi Solar Policy 2024, people installing rooftop solar panels at home will get generation-based incentives. He said such consumers will be paid for solar power generation. Under the policy, all government buildings having an area of 500 square metres will have to mandatorily install rooftop solar panels in the next three years, Kejriwal further said. Delhi Power Minister Atishi said the solar policy was approved by the Cabinet two days back and it would be notified within 10 days. The 2016 policy of the Delhi government enabled the deployment of over 250 MW of rooftop solar plants within the city and around 1,250 MW of utility-scale solar plants, totalling 1,500 MW. This meets 7.2 per cent of Delhi's annual electricity demand.

Beating Retreat ceremony 2024: Travel advisory for Delhiites

Delhi Traffic Police have issued an advisory for road diversions, closures due to the Beating Retreat ceremony. Watch the video to know about the restricted areas. #beatingretreatceremony #beatingret

Delhi excise policy case: Sisodia moves to court seeking regular bail

He was granted custody parole to meet his ailing wife on Diwali on November 10, 2023

1 dead, 17 injured as wooden stage collapses at Delhi's Kalkaji temple

A 45-year-old woman died and 17 people were injured when a stage set up for a religious function at the Kalkaji temple here collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, police said. The tragic incident occurred around 12.30 am, they said. The identity of the deceased is yet to be identified. According to police, a 'jagran' (religious function) was organised at the Mahant Parishar of Kalkaji temple on Saturday and around 1,600 people attended it. "No prior permission was granted for the event. However, sufficient staff was deployed to maintain law and order. There was a gathering of around 1,500 to 1,600 people at around 12.30 am on Sunday," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Rajesh Deo said. An elevated wooden platform supported by an iron frame was set up near the main stage for the families of the organisers and VIPs. Around 12.30 am, the elevated platform collapsed as it could not bear the weight of the people sitting on it and fell on those seated below, the DCP said. All t

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi moves SC on issue of transfer of powers

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to allow the functions of the Standing Committee to be exercised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) till the panel is constituted. The development comes less than a fortnight after Oberoi during a special session of the MCD proposed vesting the powers of the standing committee in the House amid a ruckus with the BJP members opposing the move, which they alleged was "illegal and unconstitutional". The plea, in which the Lieutenant Governor's (LG) Office is the respondent, sought a direction for the smooth functioning of the civic body. It said that on May 17, 2023, the top court had reserved its verdict on a plea challenging the appointment of nominated persons in the MCD without the aid and advice of the Delhi government. The adjudication of the legality of the nominated persons' appointments will directly and substantially impact the election of 12 out of 18 members of the Standing Committee, i.e. i

Police nabs man for making hoax call regarding Darbhanga-Delhi flight

The accused has been identified as Jay Krishan Kumar Mehta, a resident of village Shiv Nagar in Bihar

PM Modi attends annual NCC PM rally at Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi

"The event includes a cultural programme on the theme 'Amrit Kaal Ki NCC' showcasing the contribution and empowerment of the Amrit Peedhi," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a release

Four killed as fire breaks out in ground floor of house in Delhi's Shahdara

Four people, including an infant, died of suffocation and two were injured when a major fire broke out in a house on the ground floor of a multi-storey building in Delhi's Shahdara area on Friday, police said. A call was received at 5:22 pm about a blaze in a house in the Shahdara area, fire officials said. "Five fire tenders were pressed into service and the blaze was doused by 6:55 pm. Rubber material like wipers and a rubber-cutting machine kept in a house on the ground floor of the building had caught fire," said Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg. Police and fire officials rescued six people from the building and rushed them to GTB Hospital, he said. A senior police officer said after receiving information about the fire in the building, police personnel rushed to the spot and managed to rescue three people with the help of locals. They were taken to the hospital in a PCR van, he said. After fire officials reached the spot, they rescued three more people, including a

Delhi Budget session from Feb 15; health, education, roads among priorities

The Kejriwal government will present its tenth budget in the budget session of Delhi Assembly to be held from February 15-20, with a focus on health, education, roads and infrastructure, officials said on Friday. Delhi Finance Minister Atishi is expected to table the 2024-25 budget of the city government on February 17, they said. It will be the first budget presentation by Atishi, who was given the finance portfolio last year. A file of the budget session has been sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for his approval, said a statement from Delhi government. In the forthcoming budget, the Kejriwal government is set to address several significant issues, placing particular emphasis on education, health, electricity, water, roads, and infrastructure and various developmental projects, the statement said. The government is considering to start the 'Business Blasters' programme for final-year and pre-final-year students in colleges, aiming to enable them to start their businesses a

French aerospace giant Thales plans to set up avionics MRO in Delhi

As New Delhi and Paris looked to expand strategic partnership, French defence major Thales on Friday said it is bringing its "trusted" high-tech capabilities to India and plans to set up an avionics MRO in Delhi to provide world class services to its airline customers. Vice President and Country Director of Thales India Ashish Saraf said the company is fully committed and mobilised to support the modernisation and indigenisation efforts that are underway in the Indian aerospace and defence sector. In their talks in Jaipur on Thursday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron resolved to further shore up bilateral strategic cooperation, especially in areas of defence, security, trade and clean energy. Macron was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path on Friday. Saraf described the decision to set up the avionics MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) in Delhi as a "key initiative" and asserted that Thales would fully .

Tata Power to hold 'lok adalat' for north Delhi consumers on January 28

Power distribution company TPDDL will organise a special "Lok Adalat" in association with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to offer on-spot-settlement of electricity theft cases on January 28, a discom official said Thursday. The special court will start at 10 am near Venkateshwar Global School in Rohini Sector-13, the Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) spokesperson said. The litigants can register for the Lok Adalat by dialling 19124 or writing to eac.care@tatapower-ddl.com. The complainants must carry their photo identity and a copy of their theft bill during the Lok Adalat. "Consumers who look forward to settling their power-theft cases can utilise this opportunity for an amicable and immediate settlement of unsolved cases. In case of a default, the company will be obliged to initiate criminal proceedings against the consumers under the Electricity Act, 2003," he added.

Chinks in INDIA bloc as TMC, AAP rule out seat sharing in Bengal and Punjab

The constituents of the INDIA bloc were expected to contest against each other in Kerala, but two more states, Bengal and Punjab, have now been added to the list