Page 85 - Delhi

16 including children rescued after fire breaks out in Delhi's Subzi Mandi

Sixteen people, including six children, were rescued after a fire broke out in a flat in central Delhi's Subzi Mandi area on Sunday, the Delhi Fire Service officials said. A call was received at around 7:40 am about the blaze on the second floor of a building and eight fire engines were pressed into service. "The concerned police station was informed as well. We have rescued 16 people, including six children, seven women and three men," said an official. The rescue operation was challenging as an LPG gas cylinder exploded inside the flat, he added. According to the DFS, the fire has been doused and no one sustained any serious injuries. "We have started an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire," said a senior police official.

NGT forms high-level committee for demarcation of Yamuna floodplain

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a high-level committee headed by the Delhi chief secretary for the demarcation of the Yamuna floodplain, besides suggesting measures to prevent and remove encroachments and unauthorised constructions from it. The NGT was hearing a matter where it had taken suo-motu (on its own) cognisance of a media report, according to which flooding occurs in the national capital because of the unauthorised constructions in the Yamuna floodplain. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said according to the report, delineation of the river is required to prevent illegal developments in the floodplain and there are about 76 unauthorised colonies in the area concerned (where floods occurred), besides large-scale encroachment. Several areas in Delhi were inundated due to a rise in the Yamuna's water level and nearly 27,000 people from the floodplain were evacuated and sheltered at safe places in July. "The newspaper report reflects that a .

Delhi govt extends policy meant for electric vehicles till December 31

The Delhi government has extended its existing electric vehicle policy till December 31 this year, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday said. Gahlot said the Cabinet has approved the extension of the existing policy and all incentives including subsidies under it will continue. "Delhi Cabinet led by CM @arvindkejriwal has given its approval to extend the existing Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy till 31.12.2023 or till notification of Delhi EV policy 2.0 whichever is earlier. "All incentives including subsidy under the existing policy shall continue. Delhi EV policy 2.0 is in final stages and after necessary approvals shall be notified soon," Gahlot posted on X. The minister had earlier told PTI that the Electric Vehicles Policy 2.0 would look at incentivising the retrofitting of vehicles considering its high cost. People want to convert their IC (internal combustion) engines into electric ones. The process is expensive. For converting a normal Gypsy, it takes almost Rs 5-6

Delhi industrial policy seeks to create knowledge-based economy: State govt

The Delhi government has proposed the 'Industrial and Economic Development Policy 202333' to create a knowledge-based economy through high-tech industrial development and services sector and make the national capital a "24-hour city". Industries department officials on Saturday said that comments have been invited from the shareholders on the policy white paper till November 20. The proposed policy envisions making Delhi a globally competitive urban economy through the promotion of night economy, plug-and-play facilities, startups and new economic activities. The mission of the government through the policy will be to promote the services sector and knowledge-based economy, hi-tech industrial and economic development, stated the white paper. The policy objectives will be implemented in a timely and transparent manner while creating an accountable governance mechanism. The policy will be operational for 10 years after its notification, it stated. "The concept of a '24-hour city' fo

Delhi-bound flight makes emergency landing in Mumbai over bomb threat

A Delhi-bound flight of Akasa Air with 185 passengers on board made an emergency landing at the Mumbai international airport on Saturday after a passenger claimed there was a bomb on the plane, which later turned out to be a hoax, officials said, adding he has been arrested. After taking off from Pune, a passenger, identified as Pallav Ajay Tyagi, started shouting that there was a bomb on the flight, which caused panic among passengers, a police official said. The airline spokesperson said, "Akasa Air flight QP 1148, flying from Pune to Delhi at 00:07 hours on Saturday and carrying 185 passengers and six crew members on board, received a security alert shortly after take-off. "As per the safety and security procedures, the plane was diverted to Mumbai. The Captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 00:42 hours". A representative from the airlines later lodged an FIR against Tyagi at the airport police

Air quality likely to turn 'very poor', Govt invokes Grap Stage 2 measures

Amid a likely increase in pollution levels, the Centre's air quality panel on Saturday directed authorities in the National Capital Region to increase parking fees to discourage private transport and enhance CNG or electric bus and metro services. The action comes as part of 'Stage II' of the central government's pollution control plan known as the 'Graded Response Action Plan' (GRAP), which is implemented in the Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season. At a meeting to review the air quality situation in the Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for proactively implementing GRAP, said forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) suggest Delhi's overall air quality is likely to dip and enter the 'very poor' category on October 23 and 24, owing to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) sto

Delhi: Neglected water body, monuments revived; L-G says more in offing

A group of monuments and a historic water body in a sprawling archaeological park in south Delhi, which earlier lay neglected, have received a new lease of life under a revival and restoration project. The conserved monuments, some of which had graffiti scrawled on their walls earlier, and the revived water body, which till six or seven months ago was filled with silt and garbage, was unveiled by Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena on Friday evening at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The park neighbours the Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "Delhi is full of heritage and there is a need to preserve it. Few months ago, this area had dense jungle, debris lay scattered and the water body was covered in silt. But, in 6-7 months the area has been transformed," Saxena told reporters during his visit to the park which comes under the DDA. The LG is also chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). "In the future, there will be more such projects, and we are looking for m

Namo Bharat: PM Modi flags off India's first regional rapid transit system

17-km stretch connects Sahibabad and Duhai Depot

Prez denies assent to Delhi Electricity Reforms (Amendment) Bill: Speaker

The Delhi Electricity Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2022 passed by the Delhi Assembly, which sought to raise the retirement age of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) members and chairman from 65 years to 70, has been denied approval by the President, authorities said on Friday. The tenure of the chairman and the members of DERC is five years or attaining the age of 65, whichever is earlier. "The Bill was not approved by the president and returned back," Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel told PTI. No immediate comment was available from the president's office on the issue. When asked about it, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was not apprised of the matter. "I will get it checked," Kejriwal said in a press conference. Official sources said the Bill was returned by the President because the Electricity Act is a central law and it was beyond the jurisdiction of the Delhi Assembly to legislate on it. The legislation was brought to avoid any possible delay in ..

Delhi Excise Policy: Court extends judicial custody of Manish Sisodia

The Court adjourned the CBI case in Delhi excise policy till November 22. The court also extended the judicial custody of Manish Sisodia till the next date of hearing

Bike taxi drivers write to Delhi LG over timeline for transition to EVs

More than 1,500 bike taxi drivers have written to Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena demanding that they be given the same timeline for conversion to electric vehicles as their counterparts in delivery services. The letter came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved a scheme for the regulation and licensing of aggregators providing passenger transport services and delivery service providers in the national capital. The scheme also paves the way for bike taxis and mandates that the aggregators should on board electric two-wheelers for passenger services. The file pertaining to the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023 has been submitted to the lieutenant governor's office, according to an official statement. According to the letter written by the drivers, "The scheme essentially states that only electric bike taxis would be allowed to run in Delhi and bike taxis of other fuel types would become illegal to operate. By notifying

NCM asks states on action taken for granting compensation to 1984 victims

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with chief secretaries, home secretaries and minority department secretaries of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and eight states on action taken by them for granting compensation to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. The riots broke out after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. NCM chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura, members Syed Shahezadi and Rinchen Lhamo, and commission officials held the meeting with chief secretaries, home secretaries, secretaries of Minority Affairs Department of Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir, a statement issued by the commission said. During the meeting, the action taken by the governments for granting relief, compensation and justice to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was discussed, it said. The commission had sought informatio

Delhi AQI remains 'moderate' at 83, shows marginal improvement from Tuesday

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 83, a marginal improvement from Tuesday's reading of 89

Kejriwal clears regulation and licensing of transport aggregators scheme

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved a scheme for the regulation and licensing of aggregators providing passenger transport services and delivery service providers in the national capital. The scheme also paves the way for bike taxis and mandates that the aggregators should on-board electric two-wheelers for passenger services. The file pertaining to the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023 has now been submitted to the lieutenant governor's office, according to an official statement. Kejriwal said, "Today, I have given my approval to the historic Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme. It marks a significant milestone in Delhi's fight against pollution. With this, Delhi has become the first state/UT in India, and among very few cities globally, to mandate a time-bound transition of commercial vehicle fleets of aggregators, delivery service providers and e-commerce entities to zero-emission electric ...

Excise policy case: SC reserves verdict on bail pleas of Manish Sisodia

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the regular bail pleas of former deputy chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases arising out of the Delhi excise policy 'scam'. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti reserved its verdict on two separate bail petitions by Sisodia after hearing his counsel Abhishek Singhvi and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged role in the 'scam'. He has been in custody since then. The ED had arrested Sisodia in a money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9 after questioning him in Tihar Jail. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28. The high court had denied him bail in the CBI case on May 30, saying having been the deputy chief minister and excise minister, he is a "high-profile" person

Delhi govt approves premium bus service scheme to reduce vehicle usage

The Delhi government has approved a scheme for a premium bus service that aims at reducing intracity usage of private vehicles and help reduce pollution, officials said on Monday. The government uploaded the draft of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023 on its website in August and sought public feedback. The city government hopes to encourage the middle and upper-middle classes to switch to public transport through the scheme. According to the scheme, a licence holder shall ensure that no premium bus shall be engaged or acquired with a registration date beyond three years from the date of notification of the scheme. "Subsequently, induction of any new Premium bus, the prevailing emission norms, BS-VI must be compliant, either Air-Conditioned CNG or electric buses. After January 1, 2025 the induction of only electric buses shall be allowed, no CNG-operated bus even if having BS-VI compliance shall be allowed to be inducted under this scheme,"

3.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Faridabad near Delhi at 4.08 pm

An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 struck Faridabad in Haryana at 4.08 pm on Sunday, the National Centre for Seismology said. It said the epicentre for the quake was nine kilometres east of Faridabad and 30 kilometres southeast of Delhi. The quake triggered panic among people, with many in Delhi and the National Capital Region reporting vigorous shaking of furniture.

Delhi's air quality plunges into 'poor' category with an AQI of 245

The air quality in Noida also dipped into the poor category. Early morning visuals showed cars making their way through the smog-filled highway of the city

Delhi LG expresses concern over spike in stubble fires in Haryana, Punjab

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena has written to the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana expressing concern over the rise in stubble fires in their states and asked them to take remedial measures to protect the national capital from increased air pollution during winter season. In his letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Saxena said it is "extremely worrisome" that the incidents of stubble burning between September 15 and October 11 have reached 1,063 -- 300 more than the figure for the corresponding period last year. Saxena had written to Mann last year as well when Delhi was choking under pollution caused by smoke from across its borders. "Between October 24, 2022 and November 2, 2022, there had been an increase of 19 per cent in the incidents of parali burning in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year. You would also recall that last year, of the 5 states that affect Delhi's air quality, Punjab had remained the only non-performing outlier," said the ..

Delhi air in 'poor' zone on Saturday, min temp 2 notches above normal

The minimum temperature in the national capital on Saturday settled at 21.4 degree Celsius, two notches above the season's average, officials said. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 260, in the 'poor' category, around 8 am. The IMD has predicted a mainly clear sky becoming partly cloudy towards afternoon or evening. The maximum temperature is likely to settle at 36 degrees Celsius. The humidity at 8.30 am was recorded at 83 per cent. 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'.