Page 2 - Gopal Rai

Delhi govt starts preparations to control air pollution during winters

On August 21, 'Save Environment' Round Table Conference will be organized with environmental experts at the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai stated

Delhi Govt to grow the city's green cover with plantation drive on July 11

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that two crore saplings were planted in the city in the last four years, against a target of five years set by the government. The tree plantation drive will be expanded with planting of 64 lakh more saplings of various species in the next one year, Rai said during a press conference here. The minister said the Delhi government and its various agencies will kick-start the initiative, which commences with the onset of the monsoon, from Narela on July 11. He emphasised the importance of residents' cooperation in supporting the Delhi government's efforts to increase the city's green cover and said that as part of this campaign, seven lakh saplings will be distributed among citizens free of cost. The first phase of the tree plantation campaign will cover 30 assembly constituencies and will run until August 9, Rai said. During this period, awareness will be raised among the public and free saplings will be distributed, he added. Rai

Delhi's action plan to check air pollution to launch from Jun 15: Gopal Rai

Delhi's summer action plan to control air pollution in the national capital will come into effect from June 15, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday. The city government has come up with a summer action plan, which will mainly focus on tree plantation, Rai said at a press conference. "We held a meeting on Thursday in which 30 departments participated. The focus of the summer action plan will be on tree plantation. From June 15 to September 15, the government will work by focusing on 12 key points of the summer action plan," he said. The greening agencies have been directed to prepare their action plans, he added. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuated between 'moderate' and 'poor' during May 24 to June 12, Rai said and added that dust particles play an important role in summer pollution. All the agencies will jointly run an anti-dust campaign from June 15 to June 30. For this, 580 patrolling teams will go on inspections and monitor if dust control measures at ...

AAP suspends ex-MLA Nitin Tyagi for 'anti-party' activities during LS polls

The AAP on Friday suspended former MLA Nitin Tyagi from the party for alleged "anti-party" activities during the just concluded Lok Sabha polls. In his response, Tyagi claimed the action was taken against him for "speaking the truth". In a communication to Tyagi, AAP Delhi state convener Gopal Rai said, "It has come to our notice that you have been involved in anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The party has taken a decision to suspend you from its primary membership pending disciplinary proceedings." Responding to the news, Tyagi wondered if "speaking the truth in the party has become an anti-party thing?" Sharing Rai's letter on X, Tyagi said what is anti-party is "destroying its basic ideals". "It is anti-party to ask for votes for those against whom people had chosen you," he said tagging Rai, in an apparent reference to AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls.

AAP to go solo in Delhi Assembly polls, no tie-up with Cong yet: Gopal Rai

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai on Thursday said his party's alliance with the Congress was only for the Lok Sabha elections and hinted that the ruling party in the city will go solo in next year's Assembly polls here. After a meeting of party MLAs and senior leaders at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here, Rai told PTI that the party gave full support to the INDIA bloc in the Lok Sabha polls. "The INDIA bloc was only for contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Several parties fought elections together and AAP was also a part of it. As of now, there is no alliance for the Delhi Assembly polls," he told PTI. The AAP-Congress combine drew a blank in the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, with BJP effecting a clean sweep on all seven parliamentary seats for a record third time.

Lok Sabha polls: AAP launches 'Washing Machine Ka Kaala Jaadu' campaign

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday launched the 'Washing Machine Ka Kaalu Jaadu' campaign to inform the common people about the situation in the country, party leaders said. At the campaign launch, AAP Delhi state convener Gopal Rai said the BJP is claiming that they are fighting the elections against corruption. "But we will tell people about the truth of these claims." he said. The opposition parties often use the word "washing machine" to target the BJP over inducting people like Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, and Himanta Biswa Sarma, who were facing corruption charges. Demonstrating how the machine works, Delhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the BJP had run a campaign for six months alleging Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved in the Saradha scam. "But then he was inducted in the BJP and all his sins were washed away," he charged.

BJP handed INDIA bloc victory 'on platter' by jailing Kejriwal, says Rai

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi Convenor Gopal Rai on Thursday alleged that by putting Arvind Kejriwal in jail in a "fake case," BJP has ensured its defeat in the national capital. The party on Thursday held a Sankalp Sabha under the "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se" campaign in Malviya Nagar Assembly of the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. Rai said the results of the elections will come on June 4 and on that day, good days will return for the people of the country and Modi will be thrown out of power. The BJP won previous two Lok Sabha elections because the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party contested separately, which divided votes, he said. "This time, the first guarantee of Somnath Bharti's victory is his work, and the second guarantee is contesting elections on behalf of the INDIA bloc. This time not a single vote will be divided," he said. Rai said the third guarantee of victory of the alliance was given by the BJP on a platter when it put Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in jail. "They h

Lok Sabha elections: Gopal Rai inaugurates AAP's 'war room' for Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party's "war room" for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi was inaugurated by senior party leader Gopal Rai on Saturday. The party has fielded candidates on four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital while its INDIA bloc partner Congress is contesting three. The constituencies will go to polls on May 25, the sixth round of the seven-phase elections. The "war room", located at the AAP headquarters on DDU Marg, will have 12 teams for different purposes, Rai, who is the convener of the party's Delhi unit, said. While the AAP is contesting from East Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi and New Delhi, the Congress from North East Delhi, North West Delhi and Chandni Chowk. In-charges have been appointed for the four constituencies and they will ensure that the AAP's poll campaigns are run in an organised manner, he said. Dedicated teams for logistics, campaign management, legal works, data management and analysis, and media and social media among others will ensure smoo

'Conspiracy to kill Kejriwal': AAP says he's being denied insulin in jail

'ED should be afraid of God for lying so much; AAP to hold protests in Delhi: Party leaders

AAP to observe 'Samuhik Upwas' on Sunday against CM's arrest: Gopal Rai

Delhi CM Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15 and is lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a money-laundering case linked to a liquor excise policy scam

Kejriwal ko Aashirwaad: Delhi min to announce phase II of WhatsApp campaign

With the campaign, a WhatsApp number has been shared through which people can send their messages

Highlights: BJP releases new list for LS; Kangana, Naveen Jindal nominated

From AAP's plans to launch protests across the capital to Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari complaining to EC against TMC, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

INDIA bloc to hold maha rally on March 31 to safeguard democracy: Gopal Rai

The opposition INDIA bloc will hold a "maha rally" at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on March 31 to "safeguard the country's interests and democracy", AAP leader Gopal Rai said on Sunday. The announcement comes after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (55) was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday from his official residence in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. A court on Friday sent the AAP national convenor to the central agency's custody till March 28. Addressing a press conference, INDIA bloc allies AAP and Congress announced the rally. "We will hold a 'maha rally' at Ramlila Maidan on March 31 against what is happening in the country. The top leadership of the INDIA bloc will participate in the event," Rai, the AAP's Delhi convenor, said. "Democracy and the country are in danger. All the INDIA-bloc parties will hold this 'maha rally' to safeguard the country's interests and democracy," Rai added. Arvinder Singh Lovely, the Congress' D

Gopal Rai issues order to restart functioning of Delhi's only smog tower

Earlier, on Monday, Rai wrote to the principal secretary of Environment, directing the latter to release outstanding payments to personnel working at the smog tower

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai to chair meeting of Rural Development Board today

The Delhi government's Development Minister, Gopal Rai, has called a meeting of the Rural Development Board to discuss development schemes today

AAP to take legal opinion on fresh ED summons to Kejriwal: Gopal Rai

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will take legal opinion on the Enforcement Directorate's fresh summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he returns from his Vipassana, senior party leader Gopal Rai said on Saturday. After Kejriwal skipped the second summons on Thursday, the ED on Friday again issued a notice to Kejriwal for questioning on January 3 in its Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering investigation. Rai, who is the environment minister and AAP's Delhi state convener, told PTI-Video on the sidelines of a press conference that "currently, the chief minister is undertaking a Vipassana". "There is no communication with him. Once he returns, we will take a legal opinion, and then decide about it," he said. On the summons, the AAP in a statement on Friday had said it is just political vendetta to counter the growing popularity of the party across the country. This is the third notice to Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convenor, after he refused to appear before the fed

Delhi largest green belt among metros, pollution down since AAP govt: Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday the national capital has the largest green belt at 23.6 per cent among big metro cities, and asserted that pollution levels in the city have reduced since 2014 through sustained efforts. Rai responded to a query by an MLA about the number of trees planted and the decrease in pollution levels in the last five years in Delhi during the ongoing Winter Session of Delhi Assembly. "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made a resolve and promised the people during last polls that in five years two crore new trees will be planted. And in four years that target has been met," Rai informed the Delhi Assembly. Rai added that the plantation drive will be intensified in the remaining one year. On the issue of pollution, Rai shared the data on PM10 and PM2.5 levels, saying on average there has been a 31 per cent reduction in pollution levels since the formation of the AAP government. In 2014 , the yearly average of PM10 stood at 324 and st

Delhi AQI continues to be 'very poor' despite relief from recent rainfall

Delhi pollution news today: The IMD's Delhi pollution forecast suggested that the AQI is expected to stay in the "very poor" category from Tuesday to Thursday

LIVE: Funds to compensate nations for climate impacts approved at COP28

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Delhi to implement of Grap-I,Grap-II restrictions strictly: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said all the departments concerned have been directed to ensure strict implementation of restrictions under GRAP Stage-I and Stage-II following a weather department prediction that pollution levels in the national capital might fluctuate. Addressing a press conference, Rai said, "Keeping the improved pollution levels in mind, GRAP-III restrictions have been removed. However, the weather department has predicted that the pollution level could fluctuate if the wind speed slows. To avoid such a situation, all the departments concerned have been directed to ensure strict implementation of GRAP-I and GRAP-II restrictions." "The ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles have been removed and restrictions on construction and demolition lifted," Rai added. "Instructions have been given to sprinkle water on the identified roads everyday and use mechanical sweeping machines continuously. Water is being sprayed with 215 mobile anti-smog gu