Page 88 - Delhi

Will ban construction work in areas with severe air quality: Delhi govt

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the city government will ban construction work in areas recording an air quality index (AQI) above the 400 mark for five consecutive days. During a press conference, he said Delhi's AQI has remained around 350 for the past few days and meteorologists attribute this to a drop in temperatures and calm winds. "These conditions are expected to persist for the next few days, making the next fortnight crucial for Delhi," Rai said. Despite the implementation of preventive measures under Stage 2 of the Central government's air pollution control plan, pollution levels in the city continue to rise. Therefore, the Delhi government will halt construction work within a one-kilometer radius where the AQI exceeds the 400-mark for five consecutive days, Rai said. 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" The ministe

Mumbai reports 4th highest rise in home prices globally: Knight Frank

The price rise was the steepest in Manila at 21.2%, followed by 15.9% in Dubai and 10.4% in Shanghai

No fireworks in Delhi, Mumbai during World Cup matches as pollution worsens

The BCCI has banned the display of fireworks during the remaining World Cup games in Delhi and Mumbai due to worsening air quality in the two mega cities. Delhi has only one match left to host, the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka game on November 6, while Mumbai are scheduled to host two more league games, on November 2 and November 7, and the semifinal on November 15. BCCI is sensitive to environmental concerns. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won't be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level," said BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement on Wednesday. "The Board is committed to combating environmental issues and will always place the interest of our fans and stakeholders at the forefront. The BCCI acknowledges the urgent concern surrounding air quality in both Mumbai and New Delhi. "While we strive to host the ICC World Cup in a manner befitting the celebration of cricket, we remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritising the health and .

Delhi govt's GST, VAT collections rose by 17% in first half of FY24

The Delhi government's GST and VAT collections rose by 17 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal 2023-24 to more than Rs 19,100 crore, compared to the corresponding period last year, officials said on Tuesday. The total Goods and Services Tax (GST) and value-added tax (VAT) collected by the Delhi government in the first half of 2022-23 was Rs 16,352 crore, they said. "With this increase, the GST and VAT collections are likely to cross the estimated collection targets this year," said a senior government officer. According to official figures, the Delhi government collected Rs 19,101 crore from GST and VAT in the first two quarters of 2023-24 (April-June and July-September) as compared to Rs 16,352 crore in the first half of FY 2022-23. "The GST and VAT collections are likely to register a major jump with festival season leading to a shopping boom in the coming months," said the officer. According to official figures, the month-wise collection of GST and VAT was Rs 3,886

Only electric, CNG, BS-VI diesel buses from Haryana allowed to enter Delhi

The Delhi government has directed that all buses coming to the national capital from Haryana will have to run on electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel, while buses from the NCR regions of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan need to follow these norms while coming to the city from Wednesday. The transport department of the city government said from July 1 next year, all buses coming to Delhi from any city or town in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh shall only be electric, CNG and BS-VI diesel ones. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had said starting November 1, only electric, CNG and BS VI-compliant diesel buses will be allowed to operate between Delhi and the cities and towns of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan falling in the National Capital Region (NCR). The measure aims to combat the air pollution caused by the diesel-powered buses operating in the region, with the ultimate goal of transitioning to electric vehicles. In a circular issued to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and ...

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Such massive scam can't take place without Kejriwal's approval: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday sharpened its attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the excise policy case, claiming that such a "massive scam" could not have taken place with his clear approval. "Jai karni waisi bharni (you reap what you sow)," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference, a day after the Enforcement Directorate summoned Kejriwal on November 2 for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Dismissing the AAP's allegations that the Central government was trying to finish it off, he said it was the Kejriwal-led party which was finishing itself off with its "misdeeds, corruption and scams". Prasad claimed the BJP has nothing to do with central probe agencies' action against the AAP and that the legal process was following its own course in the matter. "What agencies do is none of our concern. It is for them to decide." He rhetorically asked did the BJP tell them to frame such an excise policy that "gives them commissio

Delhi traffic police advisory amid Meri Mati Mera Desh-Amrit Kalash Yatra

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory on Meri Mati Mera Desh-Amrit Kalash Yatra taking place at Vijay Chowk. The two-day event will take place from October 30 to October 31, 2023

Delhi excise policy scam: SC rejects bail pleas of ex-Dy CM Manish Sisodia

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the regular bail pleas of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in corruption and money-laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti said it has recorded the statements of the probe agencies that the trial in these cases will conclude in six to eight months. But if the trial proceeds in a "sloppy manner", then Sisodia will be at liberty to apply for bail in these cases in three months, the bench said. The top court pronounced its verdict on Sisodia's two separate regular bail pleas filed in corruption and money-laundering cases related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. It had on October 17 reserved its verdict on both the pleas. Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 for his alleged role in the "scam". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has been in custody since then. The ED arrested Sisodia in a money-laundering cas

2005 law on RTI will become 'dead letter': SC asks Centre to fill vacancies

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Delhi's AQI remains 'very poor' for 3rd day, pollution turns 'severe'

The national capital's air quality remained 'very poor' for the third straight day as the pollution levels entered the 'severe' zone in parts of the city, weather data showed. The city saw a warm day on Monday with a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average, while the mercury settled at 16.2 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year, the India Meteorological Department said. The city's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 347 at 4 pm, worsening from 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday and 261 (poor) on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Rohini (406), Wazirpur (416), and Mundka (414) recorded their air quality in the 'severe' zone (AQI above 400). The AQI was 272 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 300 in Faridabad, 203 in Gurugram, 303 in Noida and 336 in Greater Noida. The city's air quality deteriorated to 'very poor' on October 28 due to slow wind speed at night and a dip in the temperatures

2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits man of arson, loot, vandalism charges

A court here has acquitted a man accused in a 2020 Delhi riots case of all charges, including arson, vandalism and loot, saying the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a riotous mob was responsible for the incident and that the accused was its part. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing a case against Sandeep Kumar, who was accused of being a part of an unlawful assembly that looted a house and set ablaze household items and a two-wheeler in the Shiv Vihar locality in Karwal Nagar here on February 25, 2020. The prosecution though established the incident of vandalism, loot and setting ablaze of some household articles and a motorcycle, but it failed to prove a mob being responsible for the same and the presence of accused in such a mob, beyond reasonable doubts, ASJ Pramachala said in a judgment dated October 27. The court said while the complainant had not witnessed the incident, there was a discrepancy in the testimonies of two police ...

Amrit Kalash Yatra under 'Meri Maati Mera Desh' campaign reaches Delhi

This Kalash Yatra is being run across the country under the "Meri Maati Mera Desh Maha Abhiyan" with the aim of remembering the sacrifices and sacrifices of the immortal martyrs

Delhi AIIMS to implement integrated nursing education, service model

The AIIMS Delhi administration has decided to implement integrated nursing education and service model at the premier medical institute. The Indian Nursing Council, through its letter dated April 4, 2019, had granted approval for the adoption of an innovative approach - the Integration of Nursing Education and Service (Dual Role). This model aims to enhance the quality of nursing care provided to patients while simultaneously advancing the clinical skills of nursing students. This initiative is also expected to optimize the utilization of nursing cadres in both academic and clinical settings, an official said. Several institutions, including the College of Nursing, CMC Vellore, and St. John College of Nursing, SJMCH, Bangalore, have successfully implemented a similar model, demonstrating its potential to bridge the gap between theory and practice, elevate nursing standards, and efficiently utilize nursing personnel across various roles within the healthcare domain. "In light of th

Delhi-NCR 6th most expensive office rental mkt among APAC's top 23 cities

Delhi-NCR is the sixth most expensive market among Asia Pacific's prime office markets with an annual occupancy cost of USD 78.4 per square foot during the July-September period, according to Knight Frank. Occupancy cost includes rent, local taxes and other charges. Real estate consultant Knight Frank has released its Asia-Pacific Prime Office Rental Index for Q3 (July-September) 2023. Hong Kong SAR continued to be APAC's most expensive office market during the quarter with an occupancy cost of USD 164.7 per square foot per year. Mumbai was the ninth most expensive commercial market in the APAC region with an annual occupancy cost of USD 70.5 per square foot. Occupancy cost of prime office space in Bengaluru was USD 36.1 per square foot per year and the city was ranked 19th out of 23 cities tracked across the APAC region. Singapore was the second most expensive followed by Sydney, Tokyo and Seoul. Beijing ranked seventh, Ho Chi Minh City eighth and Shanghai 10th. "Demand for off

Security beefed up around Delhi churches, metro stations after Kerala blast

Security was beefed-up around churches and at metro stations in the national capital in the wake of the Kerala convention centre blast on Sunday. A senior police officer, who requested anonymity, said security has been tightened across main markets, churches, metro stations, bus stands, railway stations, and other public places. "Teams have been informed to put barricades on the border area from Uttar Pradesh Side and Haryana side. Police in civil dress, riders and PCRs have been asked to stay on alert and not to ignore any information they receive," the officer said. "We are already keeping strict vigil in overcrowded markets. Extra platoon deployment has already been done considering the festival season," the person said. On Sunday, a blast ripped through a convention centre in Kerala's Kalamassery, killing a woman and wounding 36 others. The blast occurred during the convention of the Jehovah's Witnesses -- a Christian religious group that originated in the United States of Ame

Delhi logs over 5,000 dengue cases, more than 352 of malaria till mid-Sept

More than 5,000 cases of dengue had been reported in Delhi till mid-September this year, according to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has not shared any recent data on vector-borne diseases in the national capital. The MCD's last weekly report on vector-borne diseases was released in the first week of August. MCD sources said on Thursday that nearly 5,000 cases of dengue have been recorded in the city so far this year. According to data on the official website of the NCVBDC, which comes under the Union health ministry, 5,221 cases of dengue and one death due to the disease had been recorded in Delhi till mid-September this year. Mayor Shelly Oberoi held a review meeting on vector-borne diseases with the Public Health Department officials of the MCD at the Civic Centre on Thursday, her office said in a statement. During the meeting, officials informed Oberoi that all necessary steps are being taken on a "war .

With AQI below 50, Shimla attracts tourists from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi

While the AQI stood above 300 in at least 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi on Tuesday, Manali recorded the lowest AQI (6), followed by Kullu (7) and Dharamshala (15) on Wednesday

Switzerland govt confirms woman found dead in Delhi was Swiss citizen

Switzerland has confirmed that a woman whose chained body was found from west Delhi's Tilak Nagar was a Swiss citizen. In a reply to a query from the PTI, Valentin Clivaz, Deputy Head of Media, Embassy of Switzerland in Delhi, in a statement said: "The FDFA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) confirms the death of a Swiss citizen in India." The Swiss embassy here is in contact with the local authorities. The FDFA supports relatives within the framework of consular protection, Clivaz said and added that no further details can be given for reasons of "data protection and personal privacy". The decomposed body of Nina Berger, aged around 30 years, was found from a spot near the wall of a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) school in Tilak Nagar on Friday. Her limbs were tied with metal chains, which were locked. On Tuesday, the Delhi Police had said it was waiting for the family members of the deceased to come forward and identify the body so that the process of autopsy could be

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