Page 6 - Gopal Rai

Delhi govt to launch campaign to curb dust pollution next week: Gopal Rai

The Delhi government will launch a campaign next week to curb dust pollution, one of the major reasons behind air pollution in the national capital in the summer season, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday. He said officials have been asked to inspect construction sites and take action against those violating anti-dust pollution norms. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday launched an action plan to combat air pollution during the summer months with a focus on controlling dust pollution. The Delhi government already has an action plan to combat air pollution in the winter months. The winter plan focuses on stubble burning, firecracker pollution, and industrial and vehicular emissions. The summer plan involves the participation of 30 government departments. The government has procured 84 mechanical road sweeping machines, 609 water sprinklers and 185 mobile anti-smog guns to suppress dust. Additionally, 70 integrated road sweeping machines and 250 integrated wat

Scuffle an attempt to demoralise wrestlers, AAP to support them: Gopal Rai

The AAP alleged on Thursday that the scuffle between wrestlers and Delhi Police personnel was an attempt to demoralise the grapplers, who have been sitting at Jantar Mantar since April 23 braving heat and rain, and force them to leave the site. "They were abused, manhandled and thrashed. Videos and footage are available in public domain. It was very unfortunate, shameful and painful. The wrestlers who brought laurels for the country are sitting at Jantar Mantar, braving rain and heat," AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai told reporters here. Rai asserted the AAP will continue to support the wrestlers and said the Centre should have listened to their issues and addressed them. On Wednesday night, a scuffle broke out between the wrestlers and some policemen, leading to head injuries to a couple of protesters. The grapplers alleged that a policeman manhandled them in a drunken state, but Delhi Police denied the charge and said they did not use force on the wrestlers during the ruckus. The Aa

Gopal Rai asks depts to prepare action plans to curb summer air pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday directed all departments concerned to prepare their respective action plans within a week to curb air pollution in the summer season. He said the government will focus on 16 areas including road dust, industrial pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, solid waste management, tree plantation and transplantation, open burning of garbage, city forests, urban farming, rejuvenation of water bodies and parks. Addressing a press conference here, Rai said based on data generated during a real-time source apportionment study, neighbouring states will be asked to take preventive action to curb pollution. The departments have been asked to submit their respective plans within a week. The Delhi government implemented a summer action plan to check air pollution for the first time last year. During its winter action plan, the government focuses on stubble management, dust pollution, vehicular emission, open burning of garbage, industrial ..

We were arrested after being detained: AAP leaders; Delhi Police denies

AAP leaders on Sunday claimed that they were arrested hours after being detained for protesting near the CBI office where Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was being questioned in the Delhi excise policy scam case earlier in the day. The Delhi police, however, has denied their claims and said it had imposed section 144 CrPC was imposed in the area. Police on Sunday detained 50 people, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh and minister Gopal Rai, who were protesting near the CBI office. Singh informed in a tweet that he and environment minister Gopal Rai were arrested along with other party workers and councillors. "Delhi Police has arrested me, minister Gopal Rai ji along with MLA Rituraj Jha, Dinesh Mohania, Rohit Mehraulia, Adil Khan along with many councillors and workers at Fatehpur Beri police station. Will not be afraid, will not bow down, will keep fighting," he had tweeted in Hindi. In the evening, the Delhi Police said that 36 remained detained while 14 were

National security, inflation key issues discussed in AAP council meet

The AAP on Sunday held its national council meeting and discussed national security, inflation, and unemployment, the party's Delhi convener Gopal Rai said. The party will submit its recommendations to the Centre on these three issues, he said. "Being a national party, we have decided to expand our base state-wise depending on the political situation there and in the next six months our aim will be to strengthen or formation of our state committees, Rai told reporters in a press conference. "We will focus on the states where elections will be conducted," he added. One of the primary issues that was discussed in the meeting was national security and Chinese belligerance. "The more China intrudes in our country, the more Centre increases imports from China. We will appeal the Centre to do something about it," he said. Rai said that if there is one thing people across the country are fed up of, it's inflation. "The Centre tried to trick people during elections by reducing certain p

BJP fears defeat in MCD polls, contest in Gujarat quite close: Gopal Rai

Fearing defeat, the BJP ensured that the Delhi municipal elections are held a day before the December 5 phase of the Gujarat assembly polls so that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal keeps shuttling between here and the state, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai alleged on Monday. While the Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, the polls to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are on December 4. "The MCD elections were supposed to be held in March, and when the BJP conducted a survey in Delhi, they knew that they (its candidates) would not be able to even save their deposits. All of their leaders went to (Union home minister) Amit Shah and asked him to do something, otherwise they will be exposed," Rai, who held a jansamvad in his Babarpur assembly constituency, said. Recalling how the Election Commission had called a press conference to announce the date of the MCD elections, he alleged that Shah stalled the polls by saying that all the three corporatio

Gopal Rai launches AAP war room for MCD polls, predicts landslide victory

The AAP on Thursday launched the party's war room for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi election to monitor activities such as the nomination process, campaigning and social media campaign. The 250-ward Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) goes to polls on December 4 and the counting of votes will take place on December 7. The party's Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai launched the war room and predicted a landslide victory for the AAP. "This war room is being launched to intensify the party's preparations for the upcoming MCD elections. We will use this war room to monitor 10 activities related to the polls. "The first will be to track activities related to the 'Jan Samvaad', taking place in over 13,000 booths. It will look into issues of scheduling, prepare the list of speakers for these events and send out invitations to local residents," Rai said. The second activity that the war room will engage in is the nomination process. "We will create a team of lawyers that will e

Delhi govt to reopen classes from Nov 9, revokes work-from-home order

The CAQM order recommending the restrictions was issued on Thursday

As AQI improves slightly, Delhi govt to decide on lifting ban under GRAP

With the Air Quality Index in the national capital improving slightly to "very poor" category on Monday, the Delhi government is likely to review the ban imposed under the GRAP restriction

Gopal Rai calls meeting Monday, decision to be taken on reopening schools

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a high-level meeting Monday to discuss the new directions by the Centre's air quality panel about revoking curbs imposed under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan, officials said. A decision on reopening primary schools and revocation of order asking 50 per cent of the government staff to work from home is likely to be taken at the meeting. The Centre's air quality panel on Sunday had directed authorities to lift the ban on plying of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR and entry of trucks into the capital imposed under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan. The restrictions were imposed three days ago. As Delhi's air quality index spiralled to 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category, on Thursday, the Commission of Air Quality Management had directed authorities to ban the plying of non-BS VI diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining NCR districts and the entry of

Delhi min Gopal Rai calls meeting to reopen primary schools, revoke WFH

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a high-level meeting Monday to discuss the new directions by the Centre's air quality panel about revoking curbs imposed under the final stage of Graded Response Action Plan, officials said Sunday. A decision on reopening primary schools and revocation of order asking 50 per cent of the government staff to work from home is likely to be taken at the meeting, an official said. The Centre's air quality panel Sunday directed authorities to lift the ban on plying of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR and entry of trucks into the capital imposed under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan. The restrictions were imposed three days ago. As Delhi's air quality index spiralled to 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category, on Thursday, the Commission of Air Quality Management had directed authorities to ban the plying of non-BS VI diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining NCR districts an

GRAP IV: Delhi govt bans entry of trucks to monitor air pollution, says Rai

A special task force will be formed for the hotspots, while a total of 33 teams have also been formed to monitor industrial pollution

Delhi's air emergency: 50% govt staff to WFH; schools shut from Nov 5

Alarmed by hazardous pollution levels in Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday ordered 50 per cent staff of the Delhi government to work from home and said an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said primary schools will be closed from Saturday in a bid to protect children from the effects of worsening air quality. At a press conference, Rai said schools will be asked to curtail outdoor activities of senior students. He said the Delhi government has decided to implement the anti-pollution curbs recommended by the Commission for Air Quality Management, including a ban on non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles. "At a meeting with departments concerned, it has been decided that 50 per cent staff of government offices will work from home from Monday and an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit," Rai said. In a bid to ramp up public transport, the government will also launch ...

Gopal Rai to convene high-level meet on GRAP stage 4 execution in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will convene a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the implementation of curbs on polluting activities under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan, officials said. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index spiralled to 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category as the share of stubble burning in the national capital's PM2.5 pollution soared to 38 per cent amid stagnant conditions and favourable transport-level wind speed. As Delhi stood at the edge of a public health emergency, the Commission of Air Quality Management had on Thursday directed authorities to ban the plying of four-wheeled diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining NCR districts and the entry of trucks into the national capital as part of anti-pollution measures under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). However, BS-VI vehicles and those used for essential and emergency services are exempted, according to an order issued

GRAP curbs: Gopal Rai to convene meet on Friday amid rising pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will convene a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the implementation of curbs on polluting activities under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan, officials said on Thursday. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index spiralled to 450, just a notch short of the "severe plus" category as the share of stubble burning in the national capital's PM2.5 pollution soared to 38 per cent amid stagnant conditions and favourable transport-level wind speed. As Delhi stood at the edge of a public health emergency, the Commission of Air Quality Management on Thursday directed authorities to ban the plying of four-wheeled diesel light motor vehicles in the city and adjoining NCR districts and the entry of trucks into the national capital as part of anti-pollution measures under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). However, BS-VI vehicles and those used for essential and emergency services are exempted, according to an order

AAP govt sends "Red Light On, Gaddi Off" file back again to L-G Saxena

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said that the file answering all questions raised by LG regarding the campaign has been sent

Delhi LG asks CM Arvind Kejriwal to revisit 'Red Light On, Gaddi Off' drive

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena called out the lies and bluff being publicised by Delhi Minister Gopal Rai and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pertaining to the "Red Light On, Gaddi Off" campaign

Gopal Rai convenes high-level meeting for GRAP-3 implementation today

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to discuss the issues related to the implementation of GRAP-3 in Delhi.On October 30, at 12 noon, a meeting will be held in the Civil Lines Camp office of Minister Gopal Rai.Officers related to Environment Department and other departments will be present at the meeting.With rising pollution levels, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued instructions to implement GRAP-3 in Delhi-NCR today.Earlier on Saturday, to address the deteriorating air quality of the National Capital Region, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas held an emergency meeting.While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting, the Commission noted that due to unfavourable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage ...

Campaign to curb vehicular pollution: Will answer all queries, says Rai

Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said the Delhi government will answer all questions raised by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on the "Red Light On, Gaadi Off" campaign and resubmit the file for his approval. Earlier in the day, Saxena returned the file to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to reconsider the campaign. He questioned the effectiveness of such an "ad-hoc" measure as the national capital reels under high air pollution. Addressing a press conference, Rai said, "We will give written answers to all queries raised by the LG and resubmit the file (for approval)... We hope that he will make a positive decision on the issue soon." Rai accused Saxena of doing politics over an issue concerning the lives of residents of Delhi. "The LG has returned the file, saying the Delhi government did not get a study conducted to ascertain the impact of the campaign over the last two years. We conducted the campaign in 2020 and 2021 after carefully studying all availa

Gopal Rai calls meeting to discuss measures under GRAP stage III in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a high-level meeting on Sunday to discuss measures to be implemented under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan, officials said here. A layer of pungent smog enveloped Delhi-NCR on Saturday as air pollution in the region neared the "severe" zone amid adverse meteorological conditions. This prompted the Centre's air quality panel to direct authorities in the National Capital Region to immediately implement curbs, such as a ban on construction and demolition activities, under the Graded Response Action Plan stage III. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 397 at 4 pm, the worst since January. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday (Diwali). GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation. It classifies the air quality in the Delhi-NCR under four different stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage