Page 7 - Gopal Rai

253 challans issued in Delhi, Rs 32.4 lakh fine imposed over non-compliance

Authorities in Delhi have issued 253 challans and imposed a cumulative fine of Rs 32.4 lakh on user agencies that did not comply with dust control norms, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. The minister said government officials have so far inspected 6,868 construction sites under the anti-dust campaign under October 6. "A total of 253 notices/challans have been issued and a fine of Rs 32.4 lakh imposed on violators," he said. User agencies of construction and demolition projects larger than 500 square metres are required to register them on the construction and demolition (C&D) portal launched in October last year in a bid to control dust pollution in the capital. The project proponents have to self-audit their compliance with dust control norms and upload a self-declaration on the portal on a fortnightly basis. In September, the Delhi government had also made it mandatory to install anti-smog guns at all construction and demolition sites larger than 500 square ...

Delhi saw 30% drop in incidents of cracker bursting this Diwali: Gopal Rai

There was 30 per cent less pollution on Diwali in Delhi as compared to last year and the city recorded its best air quality for the day after the festival in five years, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday. The air quality index (AQI) stood at 323 on Tuesday (the day after Diwali) as compared to 462 last year, he said. "People of Delhi were very thoughtful on Diwali this year and I want to thank them. Today, the pollution level is the lowest in five years," Rai told reporters on the sidelines of an event where he launched 150 mobile anti-smog guns. He said the anti-smog guns will be deployed at 40 spots across the capital where air pollution is high. The minister said that there has been a decline of 30 per cent in pollution level as compared to the previous year. "The AQI of 323 is still worrying and tells us that air pollution will increase in the coming days," he said. Rai further claimed the Punjab government controlled stubble burning in the state without support

Gopal Rai flags off 150 mobile smog guns to curb air pollution in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday flagged off 150 mobile smog guns from Delhi Secretariat, in view of the pollution in the national capital."The day after Diwali has recorded the lowest pollution in the last five years. There has been a reduction of 30 per cent in pollution compared to last year itself," he said while sharing the figures from the last five years.The environment minister congratulated the citizens for their efforts towards keeping pollution under control."The festival of Diwali was celebrated with great pomp yesterday, but I want to congratulate the people of Delhi that due to your efforts, the level of pollution has not increased today compared to every year. Today is the lowest level of pollution in the last five years. Last year it was 462, but today it has come down to 323, that is, there is a shortfall of about thirty per cent," he said.On the incidents of burning of firecrackers, Gopal Rai further added that some people did burst crackers, it is ...

Delhi's pollution level lowest in 5 yrs post-Diwali, says Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that this year the pollution level in the national capital was the lowest after Diwali compared to the last five years

Govt's refusal to give cash incentive impacted campaign: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the Centre's blunt refusal to provide cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning crop residue has impacted the campaign against stubble burning in the agrarian state. In July, Delhi and Punjab governments had jointly sent a proposal to the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to help them give Rs 2,500 per acre as cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning stubble. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in September the Centre had turned down the proposal. Farmers say a cash incentive can help them cover the cost of fuel used in operating the machinery for the in-situ management (mixing crop residue in soil) of paddy straw. Addressing a press conference here, Rai said stubble burning in any area will have an impact on Delhi's air if the wind direction changes. "So, we have been talking to the Punjab government. But the main problem there is that farmers had demanded financial support (fo

AAP support base increasing in Gujarat with BJP targeting Italia: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday defended AAP Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia on the row over his alleged derogatory remarks and hit out at the BJP leaders, alleging they keep insulting the country throughout the year and hurl abuses on anyone they want. Replying to questions at a press conference, he said the release of Italia's videos and his detention by Delhi Police here on Thursday only shows how scared the ruling BJP is of the growing support base of the AAP in Gujarat ahead of the assembly polls in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also surrendered as the BJP has nothing else to say after ruling Gujarat for 27 years, he said. BJPians are insulting the country 365 days round the year...They hurl abuses on anyone they want but their videos are not released, Rai said when asked for his reaction on purported videos where Italia was seen making derogatory remarks against prime minister Modi, and mocking his 100-year-old mother. The purported videos have no

CP smog tower has noticeable impact on Delhi air pollution: Gopal Rai

The smog tower at Connaught Place here has a noticeable impact on air pollution up to a distance of 300 metres, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday. Within a radius of 50 metres, the giant air purifier is able to cut down air pollution by 70 to 80 per cent. It reduces pollution levels by 15 to 20 per cent beyond 300 metres, he told reporters. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the over 24-metre-high smog tower at Connaught Place on August 23 last year. The city government had formed a team of experts from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, IIT-Bombay, NBCC and Tata Projects to study its impact over two years. Officials had earlier said the Rs 20 crore smog tower can purify the air in a one-km radius at a rate of around 1,000 cubic metres per second. Rai said the construction of more smog towers in the capital would depend on the success of the pilot project. The smog tower at Baba Kharak Singh Marg has 5,000 coarse filters and 5,000 fine filters develo

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai calls meeting on lumpy skin disease virus

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of the concerned departments on Saturday in wake of the lumpy skin disease virus.

Gopal Rai writes to Centre, seeks joint plan to fight Delhi air pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday wrote to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, seeking time to discuss and prepare a joint action plan to fight air pollution in the national capital in winter. The Delhi government is committed to providing clean air to people and is working on short-term and long-term measures. These measures are being implemented through action plans for summers and winters, he said. Rai said the Delhi government's efforts have led to an increase in the number of "satisfactory" (AQ1 51 to 100) and "moderate" (AQI 101 to 200) air quality days. He said like the last two years, the Delhi government has prepared a winter action plan to fight air pollution. "We request you to give us time to prepare a plan to save Delhi from the possible danger of air pollution in the coming months," he wrote in the letter to Yadav, who is the Union environment minister. Last year also, Rai wrote several letters to Yadav, calling for emergency meetings to discuss the air ...

Gopal Rai seeks time to prepare plan to fight air pollution in Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday wrote to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, seeking time to discuss and prepare a joint action plan to fight air pollution in the national capital in winter. The Delhi government is committed to providing clean air to people and is working on short-term and long-term measures. These measures are being implemented through action plans for summers and winters, he said. Rai said the Delhi government's efforts have led to an increase in the number of "satisfactory" (AQ1 51 to 100) and "moderate" (AQI 101 to 200) air quality days. He said like the last two years, the Delhi government has prepared a winter action plan to fight air pollution. "We request you to give us time to prepare a plan to save Delhi from the possible danger of air pollution in the coming months," he wrote in the letter to Yadav, who is the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Last year also, Rai wrote several letters to Yadav, calling for emergency .

15-point action plan in Oct to fight air pollution in winter: Delhi min

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said the city government will launch a 15-point action plan in October to fight air pollution in winter. The plan will focus on stubble management, dust pollution, vehicular emission, open burning of garbage, industrial pollution, green war room and Green Delhi application, pollution hotspots, real-time apportionment study, smog tower, e-waste parks, plantation, eco-farming, public participation, firecrackers and joint action with neighbouring states. Rai will discuss all the action points in detail with the 33 departments concerned in a meeting on September 5. Their suggestions and recommendations will be incorporated in the winter action plan. The September 5 meeting will also brainstorm on the implementation of the revised Graded Response Action Plan. Rai said 39 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi is generated locally and the rest comes from neighbouring areas in the National Capital Region. The revamped GRAP -- a set of ant

PM Modi's posters up at AAP plantation event: Gopal Rai cries foul

Gopal Rai alleged that the Centre tried to hijack an event of Arvind Kejriwal with the Delhi Police putting up banners carrying pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the venue last night

Gopal Rai to hold review meeting on 'Paryavaran Mitra' campaign

Delhi Environment Minister will hold a review meeting on the government's campaign to register people working or willing to work for environmental protection as 'paryavaran mitras'

AAP's Gopal Rai slams Centre over decriminalising environment laws

Development should not come at the cost of nature and there is a pressing need to find a balance between the two, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has said

Govt's ban on single-use plastic lacks preparation, alternatives: Gopal Rai

He also claimed the Union government did not even call a meeting of state environment ministers before the ban came into force.

Centre's ban on single-use plastic items lacks preparation: Gopal Rai

He also claimed the union government did not even call a meeting of state environment ministers before the ban came into force

National policy to solve unemployment need of hour: Delhi minister

The need of the hour is to formulate a national policy to solve the problem of unemployment in the country, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday

Delhi govt to plant 3.5 mn saplings in 2022 to fight pollution: Gopal Rai

We are taking multiple measures to further improve Delhi's green cover. We aim to plant 35 lakh saplings in Delhi via different agencies this year," Rai said.

Warning for plastic ban violation till Jul 10; action include jail: Rai

The government will give top priority to creating awareness against the use of SUP items and providing their alternatives to people, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.

Delhi govt extends anti-open burning campaign till June-end: Gopal Rai

The decision was taken at a meeting to review the implementation of Delhi's summer action plan to fight air pollution.