Page 5 - Gopal Rai

DPCC chairman stopped study to ascertain pollution sources in Delhi: Rai

The Delhi government's first-of-its-kind study to determine pollution sources in the national capital has been halted unilaterally on the orders of Delhi Pollution Control Committee Chairman (DPCC) Ashwani Kumar, alleged city Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday. In a press conference, Rai said the Delhi Cabinet had approved the study proposal in July 2021 and signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur in October 2022. "The estimated cost was over Rs 12 crore. The Delhi government had released Rs 10 lakh to IIT Kanpur for the procurement of necessary equipment," he said. The minister claimed that Ashwani Kumar, who took up the role of DPCC chairman in December, made a file note earlier this year, expressing concerns about the "substantial expenses associated with the study". Following several meetings with IIT Kanpur scientists, Kumar issued orders on October 18 to stop the release of the remaining funds to IIT Kanpur, effectively cancelling the study, Rai said. "It's very unfortunate t

'Red light on Gaadi off' campaign returns in Delhi from Thursday: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the city government will re-launch the "Red Light on Gaadi Off" campaign from October 26 to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital. Last year, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had put the campaign on hold, questioning its effectiveness. Addressing a press conference here, Rai said a recent data analysis shows a decrease in PM10 pollution and a rise in PM2.5 concentration due to biomass burning and vehicular emissions. "Considering this, we have decided to reintroduce the 'Red Light on Gaadi Off' campaign to reduce vehicular pollution, starting October 26," he said. Rai noted that in the previous years, civil defence volunteers were involved in the campaign. This year, the campaign will involve the general public. The "Red Light on Gaadi Off" campaign, first launched on October 16, 2020, aims to decrease vehicular pollution in Delhi by encouraging drivers to turn off their vehicles while waiting at traffic lights. A 20

Overall air quality improves in Delhi on Wednesday morning but still poor

Delhi air quality: Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said that the second phase of Grap has been implemented in Delhi to reduce the effect of increased pollution

Making action plan to combat pollution in Delhi ahead of Diwali: Gopal Rai

Action will be taken against those who violate the norms, said Rai, adding that the Delhi government is preparing to come up with a 'Winter action plan'

Air quality in Delhi 'very poor', 2nd phase of GRAP implemented: Gopal Rai

The capital's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 313 on Sunday, deteriorating from 248 on Saturday

'Steps to curb pollution won't be effective till NCR states check sources'

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. Rai, in a letter to Bhupender Yadav, his counterpart at the Centre, said the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season. "But these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region." A report by independent environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the national capital while 69 per cent is from sources in NCR states, he said. Rai demanded that the Centre convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to factors contributing to air pollution in the national capital. The states in the National Capital Region (NCR) should impose a complete ban on ..

Strict action against construction cos violating anti-dust norms: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday directed officials to take strict action against construction agencies found violating anti-dust norms at Sarai Kale Khan here. As part of the Delhi government's anti-dust campaign, Rai inspected several construction sites in the area and found they did not have a working anti-smog gun, water sprinklers and tin sheds to prevent dust pollution. The minister directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to issue notice to the project proponents concerned. He said a penalty will be imposed on the violators if they fail to submit a satisfactory reply within 24 hours. Rai Saturday launched a month-long drive to prevent dust pollution in the capital and said strict action will be taken against anyone found violating relevant norms. The Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants, and to take punitive measures against polluting industries an

Gopal Rai launches anti-dust campaign in Delhi to combat air pollution

The Delhi Minister also informed that the first phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in Delhi aimed at curbing dust pollution in the capital

Gopal Rai launches month-long drive to combat dust pollution in Delhi

Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai Saturday launched a month-long drive to prevent dust pollution in the capital and said strict action will be taken against anyone found violating relevant norms. The Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed authorities in the National Capital Region to enforce a ban on coal usage in hotels and restaurants, and to take punitive measures against polluting industries and thermal power plants as the air quality in Delhi plunged into the 'poor' category. This action comes as part of the central government's pollution control plan known as the 'Graded Response Action Plan' (GRAP) which is implemented in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season. Rai said the "Anti-Dust Campaign" is being launched in view of the worsening air quality. "This will include measures such as the installation of dust control equipment at all sites exceeding 500 square metres, with real-time monitoring available through a web portal," he said. He said

LIVE: SoftBank likely to sell shares worth up to $105 mln in PB Fintech

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Repair work in Azadpur Mandi to be done within 45 days, says Gopal Rai

Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday said that traders affected due to the recent fire in Azadpur Mandi have been shifted till the damaged tin sheds are repaired. During a visit to the Azadpur Mandi -- Asia's largest wholesale vegetable market -- where a fire broke out on September 29, Rai said he has issued directions that the repair work be done within 45 days A massive fire broke out at Tomato Mandi on Friday and required 11 fire tenders to douse the blaze. The fire was brought under control by 6.30 pm. "The traders have been shifted to another tin shed so that their business does not get affected. I have issued directions to repair the tin shed (where the fire broke out) within 45 days," the minister told reporters. On Friday, Rai said that a possibility of developing a fire control system was also being explored when he was asked about the difficulty that fire tenders faced in reaching the site of fire due to traffic congestion.

Strict action against agencies violating dust control norms in Delhi: Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said strict action will be taken against agencies found violating dust control norms in the national capital. The minister held a meeting with officials of government and private construction agencies and instructed them to follow the city government's guidelines to prevent dust pollution during the winter season. "All agencies engaged in construction work were instructed to follow 14-point guidelines to control dust pollution," he said in a post on X. It is mandatory to install anti-smog guns at construction and demolition sites larger than 5,000 square metres, he said. All construction agencies have to provide on-site training to workers regarding the guidelines, he added. The guidelines include erecting dust/wind-breaking walls of appropriate height around construction sites and covering scaffolding with tarpaulin or green netting. All vehicles, including those transporting construction material and debris, must be cleaned and the

Delhi govt bans manufacturing, sale, storage, use of firecrackers on Diwali

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that government has decided to ban production, storage, sale, and bursting of crackers

Delhi: Gopal Rai holds meeting on winter action plan to fight air pollution

Gopal Rai further said that the Government will organize an "Environmental Experts Meet" regarding the Winter Action Plan at the Delhi Secretariat on September 12

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai launches portal to lodge wildlife complaints

The Delhi Forest Department on Sunday launched a portal to facilitate rapid response to threats and offences concerning trees, forests, and wildlife. Environment Minister Gopal Rai launched the portal -- accessible at https://ghl.eforest.delhi.gov.in saying it serves as a centralised platform for swift action on complaints received through the Green Helpline (1800-11-8600) and will ensure timely intervention in critical situations. One of the key features of the portal is that it will have on record all complaints registered on the helpline. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive view of the actions taken by the Department of Forest and Wildlife in response to these complaints. This transparency ensures that stakeholders can easily track the status of actions taken, promoting accountability and effective collaboration, Rai said. Issues that can be reported and addressed through the portal include damage to trees, attempts to encroach upon forest land, threats to wildlife, wild

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 ..

Delhi govt imposes 5 yr jail, fine for production, sale of Chinese manjha

The decision comes ahead of Independence Day and Rakhshabandhan as kite-flying surges during this time

Delhi has witnessed 30% improvement in air quality: Minister Gopal Rai

While air pollution is steadily rising across the country, the national capital has witnessed a 30 per cent improvement in its air quality, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Sunday. Rai was speaking at the launch of the annual sapling plantation drive from the campus of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute here. During the drive, which usually begins during the monsoon, saplings will be planted across the Delhi to increase the city's green cover. "Air pollution in Delhi has reduced by 30 per cent while it has steadily increased in the rest of the country," the minister said at the launch of the drive. Rai also launched an online portal to allow Delhi residents to book free saplings. "The city government is close to delivering on its promise of planting two crore saplings in the national capital in five years," he said. "Before the state elections, we promised to plant two crore saplings. We planted 32 lakh in 2020-21, 35 lakh in 2021-2022, 50 lakh in 2022-23 and

Delhi Environment Min convenes meeting amid Delhi's worsening air quality

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of the officials of his department and the city's pollution control board on Thursday, as the national capital recorded close to 'severe' level air quality index (AQI). The meeting is slated to take place at 1 pm on Thursday, an official said on Wednesday. "The meeting of the environment department and Delhi Pollution Control Committee, to be chaired by Delhi Minister Gopal Rai, has been convened to discuss the situation as the AQI level has deteriorated," he said. The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital was close to the 'severe' level on an overcast Wednesday morning while the minimum temperature settled at 25.4 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. Central Pollution Control Board data showed Delhi's AQI at 395 ('very poor') at 9 am, just five notches short of touching the 'severe' level. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 30

Crucial conference on source apportionment study on air pollution in Delhi

The Delhi government will hold a roundtable conference on Monday to discuss the findings of a real-time source apportionment study on air pollution and develop a strategy to further improve air quality in Delhi-NCR, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said. The "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" will take place at the Delhi Secretariat, and will be attended by representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, TERI, and NCR (National Capital Region) states. "We will share the report of the source apportionment study with the participants, seek their suggestions, and prepare a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR," Rai said. Real-time source apportionment studies help identify factors responsible for an increase in air pollution at any spot, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions .