Page 98 - Delhi

Yamuna water level likely to rise in Delhi but grave situation unlikely

Torrential rains in the upper catchment areas of the Yamuna will increase the water level of the river in Delhi, but a dire situation is unlikely, officials said on Monday. According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) website, the water level of the river at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) stood at 203.48 metres at 3 pm and is rising further. The flow rate at the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana's Yamunagar increased to 75,000 cusecs at 9 am, the highest since July 26. The CWC's five-day flood forecast suggests the water level may touch the warning level of 204.5 metres on Wednesday. "We are monitoring the situation. The water level may increase but a grave situation is unlikely," an official of the Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department said. Torrential rains ravaged Uttarakhand on Monday, destroying buildings and causing landslides which breached the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri shrines, leaving three people dead and five missing. M

Khan Market rent up 7% in Q1, South Ex rent grew 145%: Cushman & Wakefield

Khan Market -- Delhi's upscale high-street retail location -- witnessed a 7 per cent growth year-on-year in average monthly rent during the April-June period at Rs 1,500 per square feet, according to Cushman & Wakefield. The rentals in Khan Market, the most expensive retail destination in India, had fallen sharply during the Covid pandemic but now it has bounced back. The rent in Khan Market stood at Rs 1,200 per sq ft a month during July-September 2020, down 14 per cent from the year-ago period. In its Marketbeat report for retail real estate during April-June 2023, Cushman & Wakefield said that the rent in Khan Market stood at Rs 1,500 per square feet. South Extension I & II saw a 14 per cent growth in the average rental to Rs 800 per square feet a month, while Lajpat Nagar witnessed a 10 per cent growth to Rs 275 per square feet. Rentals remained stable in Connaught Place at Rs 1,050 per square feet. As per the data, the monthly rent in Greater Kailash I, M Block grew ..

Glasses on door of Owaisi's Delhi house found broken, police probe on

Two glasses on the door of AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi's Delhi residence have been found broken, police said on Monday. A senior police officer said that no stone or any other such thing was found in the vicinity of the broken glasses. Police are checking the area and an investigation is underway, the officer said. Owaisi had in February alleged that his residence in the national capital was attacked by unidentified miscreants and had claimed that to be the fourth such incident since 2014.

Stage set for 77th I-Day, PM to lead celebrations at Red Fort in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in marking the 77th Independence Day as the stage is set for celebrations at the historic Red Fort on August 15. Around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited as "Special Guests" from across the country to be a part of the celebrations at the Red Fort, the defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Modi will unfurl the national flag and deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the historic monument. This year's Independence Day will also see culmination of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', which was launched by the prime minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on March 12, 2021 and will, once again, usher the country into 'Amrit Kaal' with renewed vigour to realise the dream of making India a developed country by 2047, it said. A large number of guests have been invited as compared to the figures last year. The invitation to about 1,800 'Special Guests' hse been ...

Minister Meenakashi Lekhi flags off 'Tiranga Rally' in national capital

A fervour of patriotism and nationalism was witnessed during the massive Tiranga Rally

Full dress rehearsals for I-Day celebrations underway at Delhi's Red Fort

India will be celebrating its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday, and the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the nation on the occasion from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort

Security beefed up ahead of Independence Day celebrations in Delhi

Delhi Police has put up stringent security arrangements and intensified patrolling and checking of vehicles

Delhi L-G approves transfer of vigilance, services departments to Atishi

Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has accepted the chief minister's recommendation to transfer the charge of Vigilance and Services departments to minister Atishi Marlena, officials said on Saturday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on August 8 made the recommendation. The departments were earlier handled by Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj. A formal notification of the reshuffle by the General Administration (GAD) was awaited, they said. The proposal of the chief minister to allocate the portfolios of Services and Vigilance departments to Atishi Marlena was received at LG office on August 8, officials at Raj Niwas said. "At that time, Section 3A of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 excluding Entry 41 of the State List from the legislative domain of Delhi Assembly was in vogue," the LG wrote in a file noting. However, Section 3A of the Ordinance was omitted from the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023

Delhi Cong chief Anil Chaudhary holds meeting with party representatives

Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary on Saturday said the party should press the Election Commission to hold mock drills on the use of EVMs and VVPATs and seek information about previous use of the machines ahead of Lok Sabha elections. The block-level agents have been asked to give information for the formation of block-level 'mandalam' and sector for delimitation, Chaudhary said at a meeting with the party representatives. He asked the Congress representatives to present the party's stand before the Election Commission and get details of EVM machines like serial numbers and the manufacturing company. Being a stakeholder in the democratic process of conducting elections, it is the duty and responsibility of the Congress to find out where all the EVM and VVPAT machines were used for elections before. We should demand a mock drill of the EVM and VVPAT machines, he said. Chaudhary alleged that the meetings of the Election Commission with representatives of political parties are mere .

Delhi services bill becomes a law after President Droupadi Murmu's assent

The Delhi services bill that entails the creation of an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in the national capital and gives the central government primacy over such appointments has received presidential assent. In a notification, the Ministry of Law and Justice said that President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023. With this, the legislation becomes a law and replaces the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, an official said. The legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha on August 7, after a challenge by the Aam Aadmi Party and other opposition parties was defeated, and by Lok Sabha on August 3. The Act gives the Delhi Lieutenant Governor the final say on the transfer and posting of officials of the city government and strengthens the central government's control over the national capital. The Supreme Court had on May 11 ruled that the ..

Delhi govt likely to provide luxury buses for pilgrimage sites near city

The Delhi government is considering sending senior citizens to pilgrimage sites near the national capital on luxury buses under the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Yatra Yojna, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday. More than 71,000 people from Delhi have gone on pilgrimages by 72 trains under the scheme so far, Kejriwal said. "I want every elderly person in Delhi to go on a pilgrimage but sometimes, trains are not available. So, luxury buses can be used to send people to nearby pilgrimage places like Ayodhya," he said. The chief minister met a group of people headed for a pilgrimage to Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat at the Thyagraj Stadium here. He asked them to seek blessings for Delhi and the country.

MCD to conduct cleanliness drive with daily inspection by councillors

AAP's MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak on Saturday announced a cleanliness drive to be carried out by the civic body with daily inspection by a team of 3,000 people, which includes MCD councillors and workers. Addressing a press conference here, MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said that the cleanliness campaign will run for 365 days and that the councillors will inspect their respective wards every single day. Today onwards, all MCD officials and MCD workers will go to the ground to carry out the cleanliness drive. This campaign will run for 365 days and every day our councillors will inspect cleanliness every day," Pathak said. "We have formed a team of 3000 people for the entire city, he added. He further said that along with the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, he too will inspect two to three wards every day.

Climate change not problem for Delhi alone, says minister Gopal Rai

With climate change posing a threat to water security in cities such as Delhi, the city government's Environment Minister Gopal Rai has said extreme weather is not a challenge for the national capital alone and collaboration among states is a must to effectively tackle such situations. In his first interview following last month's unprecedented floods in Delhi, Rai noted that developing nations, including India, are grappling with the consequences of actions of developed countries. He emphasised that making environmental protection, climate change and air pollution integral to national politics can pave the way for ecologically-friendly development across the nation. "Climate change doesn't only affect Delhi, it's a challenge for the whole world. Developed nations have contributed the most to climate change because they exploited natural resources without proper checks and balances," he said. "Many countries followed the path of developed nations and excessively consumed natural ..

Weeks after Delhi floods, Hindu refugees from Pak await help, face woes

Eighteen-year-old Anita, a Hindu refugee from Pakistan, points to a mound of bricks -- once a part of her home but now a reminder of the devastation caused by the Yamuna's floodwater that submerged large swathes of Delhi last month. While the floodwater has since receded, the Hindu refugees from Pakistan living near the riverbank in Manju Ka Tila continue to reel from the financial and health burden it caused. Unable to afford immediate repairs, many of these refugees continue to live in their damaged homes -- some with collapsed walls and broken doors. Many of them are bedridden after hurting themselves in the rush to evacuate to safety. "The walls collapsed and the doors broke and we have to live with that. Our financial condition is such that we cannot immediately get the broken doors repaired," Anita told PTI. Following heavy rain in its upper catchment areas, the Yamuna in Delhi flowed above the danger level -- smashing the all-time record set 45 years ago by a significant ...

Delhi's minimum temp settles at 27.3 degrees Celsius, light rain likely

Delhi on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 27.3 degrees Celsius, normal for the season, according to the India Meteorological Department. The weather office has predicted strong surface winds during the daytime. It has also forecast generally cloudy skies with light rain. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 35 degrees Celsius, it said. At 8.30 am, the humidity was recorded at 69 per cent, the Met office said. According to Central Pollution Control Board data, the national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood in the 'moderate' category with a reading of 129 at 10 am. 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'.

28 students fall sick due to gas leak in Delhi's Naraina; FIR registered

Twenty-eight students of a municipal school in west Delhi's Naraina area were hospitalised on Friday with two of them requiring oxygen support after allegedly inhaling noxious fumes following a suspected "gas leak" incident nearby, officials said. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi said the students, including the two girls who were put on oxygen support in Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, are doing fine. A senior police officer said a case has been registered under sections of 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC against unidentified people. The Aam Aadmi Party's MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak, who met the ailing students at the hospital, said it is being claimed that the gas leaked from a train that was passing the railway tracks nearby. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), in a statement, said, "The gas leak occurred at

Excise Commissioner empowered to declare dry days in Delhi, says official

A notification issued by the Finance department of Delhi government has empowered the Excise Commissioner to declare dry days for closure of liquor outlets in the city, officials said on Friday. The proposal of the Excise department on the declaration of dry days was earlier sent for approval of the chief minister, they said. No immediate reaction was available from the AAP government on the notification. Last month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved a proposal of the Excise department for declaring Muharram, July 29, Independence Day, August 15, Janmashtami, September 7, and Eid-e-Milad on September 28, as dry days. However, the notification issued by the Finance department on July 28 stated that the Excise Commissioner with prior concurrence of the principal secretary (finance) can exercise the power of the government for the purpose. "In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 8 of Delhi Excise Act, 2009 (10 of 2010), the Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Nationa

Delhi govt to undertake energy audit for saving electricity: Atishi

The Delhi government will undertake an energy audit of all its buildings having sanctioned a load of 500 KW and above as well as street lights by certified auditors from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Power Minister Atishi said on Friday. The audit will pinpoint areas of excessive power usage in the government buildings and devise strategies to manage and control it, the minister said in a statement. "The energy audits of government buildings will not only suggest ways to minimise energy consumption but will also alleviate the financial burden on the exchequer. The energy-saving measures derived from the exercise will also help stabilise Delhi's overall power demand," she said. The audit will involve measuring the actual energy consumption of various devices and appliances within the buildings, comparing it with the estimated minimum energy required for the processes, and then identifying economically and technically feasible methods to achieve energy savings, Atishi said. Delhi

After tomatoes, now onion likely to get costlier by September on low supply

Though India has a huge stock of onions, the high proportion of bad-quality onions due to excessive summer heat this year had led to an increase in the prices of good-quality onions

Delhi school students not allowed to use mobiles in classrooms: DoE

Mobile phones are strictly prohibited in the classrooms of Delhi government schools and private schools for students, the Directorate of Education (DoE) said on Thursday. Teachers and other staff have also been asked to avoid using mobile phones in places like classrooms, playgrounds, laboratories and libraries where teaching and learning activities take place. Parents should ensure that their children do not bring mobile phones into the school premises. If students bring mobile phones to school, then the school authority should arrange to keep them in a locker and return the mobile phones to the students after school, a DoE circular said. School authorities have been asked to provide helpline numbers where students and parents can call in case of an emergency. This advisory was issued for all government and private schools in Delhi.