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As per a S&P study, there is growing traffic congestion in major Indian cities with Mumbai topping the list with 430 cars per kilometre. Switching to EVs can decrease the load on air pollution due to reducing average vehicle speed in these highly congested cities. EVs are new-age vehicles that eliminate any possibility of pollutant emissions, thereby considerably alleviating the core causes of air pollution. In addition, the transition to EVs can decrease imports of fossil fuel substantially, significantly easing the country's cash outflow.
NEW DELHI: India trialled cloud seeding over its smog-filled capital for the first time, spraying a chemical from an aeroplane to encourage rain and wash deadly particles out of the air. Cloud seeding is the practice of using aeroplanes to fire salt or other chemicals into clouds to induce rain. New Delhi city authorities, working with the government's Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, launched a test run on Thursday (Oct 23) afternoon using a Cessna light aeroplane over the city's norther ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANS) Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Tuesday that vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps in Delhi from December 18. Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, Sirsa said, "To control vehicular tail pipe emissions, all the dealers of the petrol/ diesel/CNG pumps are directed to dispense/sell the petrol/ diesel/ CNG to motor vehicles only on production of a valid Pollution under Control Certificate (PUCC)." He also highlighted that over 8.66 lakh vehicles hav ...Read More >
Delhi AQI: A thick layer of smog covered Delhi on Tuesday morning, just a day after Diwali celebrations filled the sky with fireworks. The city woke up to an acrid haze, reduced visibility and burning eyes, as air pollution levels reached hazardous levels. The national capital topped the list of the world's most polluted major cities, with residents struggling to breathe even indoors. While Swiss-based monitoring agency IQAir reported Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) at a shocking 1,121, India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a much lower 351, which falls under the "very poor" ...Read More >
For the second consecutive day on Monday (December 2, 2024), Delhi's air quality showed a slight improvement although it remained in the 'poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 273 in the morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's 24-hour average AQI on Sunday stood at 285, an improvement to the 'poor' category and a welcome relief following 32 consecutive days of 'very poor' and 'severe' air quality (AQI over 400). The city's air quality was last recorded in the 'poor' category on October 29 with an AQI of 268, according to the CPCB. Farm fires ris ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The national capital wrapped up a rather warm January with Friday's maximum temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius, making it the city's warmest day in the month since 2019. The month's average maximum temperature was 21.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the long-period average of 20.1 degrees Celsius, marking it as Delhi's warmest January since 2019. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, nighttime temperatures were also higher than usual. The average minimum temperature for the month settled at 8.5 degrees Celsius, a notch above the LPA of 7.5 deg ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Three days after exempting majority of the coal- and lignite-based thermal power plants (TPPs) in India from installing key anti-pollution equipment that could have helped them meet the sulphur dioxide standards, the Union environment ministry on Monday sought to justify its move saying the current exposure levels provide no credible evidence to suggest that SO₂, under prevailing ambient conditions, is a major public health concern.It said any revision to SO2 standards must be driven by its actual contribution to PM2.5 levels and its corresponding health burden.Flagging a detailed s ...Read More >
In a major push to decongest one of Delhi's most notorious traffic choke points, construction is in full swing at the intersection of Urban Extension Road-2 (UER-2) and the Delhi-Gurgaon-Jaipur Highway, commonly known as the Shiv Murti Chauraha. On Thursday, Delhi's Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa carried out a joint inspection of the site to assess ongoing work and review pending challenges. The high-traffic junction serves as ...Read More >
Delhi-NCR's air quality watchdog has formed a 15-member expert panel to combat vehicular pollution, a major regional pollutant. This committee, comprising academics and specialists, will devise a comprehensive strategy for emission reduction. The Commission for Air Quality Management has set up a 15-member expert committee to tackle vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR, saying that such emissions remain a major contributor to air pollution in the region. According to a statement, the committee brin ...Read More >
Delhi weather today: The weather in Delhi-NCR brought a big change as heavy rain lashed the region early Monday morning. The downpour came as a huge relief from the recent days of scorching heat and high humidity. For many residents, the cooler temperatures and fresher air came as a welcome break. However, the sudden rainfall also led to waterlogging in several low-lying parts of the city. The Delhi weather system impacted not just the capital but also nearby cities such as Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. People in these areas reported heavy to very heavy showers, strong gusty winds ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Monday appealed to the citizens to adopt electric vehicles (EVs), especially in the state's rapidly growing cities, emphasizing their role in reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. Addressing the 42nd Foundation Day of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) in Bhubaneswar, Kambhampati highlighted the need for collective action to safeguard the environment and ensure a healthier future for citizens. He noted that the Raj ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- Thick smog blanketed India's capital on Tuesday, a day after millions celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali with fireworks that sent air pollution levels soaring to hazardous levels across the city. Revelers in New Delhi burst firecrackers late into Monday night, filling the air with smoke and fine particles that mixed with seasonal pollution and stagnant weather conditions. By Tuesday morning, the city's Air Quality Index had climbed above 350 in several neighborhoods, a level considered "severe" and dangerous to breathe, according to the World Health Organization's daily ...Read More >
New Delhi: Firecracker emissions may have contributed between 30% and 40% to the city's pollution on Diwali, with calm conditions primarily worsening the impact and delaying recovery, say experts. According to Gufran Beig, founder of System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) and chair professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), a preliminary visual analysis of data indicates that pollution levels rose steeply between 9 pm on Monday and 5 am on Tuesday, when firecracker emissions accounted for over 70% of the total pollution, before decreasing as the sun ...Read More >
Gurgaon: For a brief moment on Thursday, city residents could breathe a little easier. The city's average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 208, down from 281 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The improvement, however, is only a temporary reprieve. The air will remain in the 'poor' category -- still dangerous for children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory issues.Officials said the short-lived relief was due to stronger surface winds and clearer skies, which helped disperse some of the lingering pollutants. However, meteorologists warned that thi ...Read More >
Noida: After four consecutive days of very poor air quality, Noida saw a marked improvement due to sustained northwesterly winds, clocking up to 10 to 15 kilometre per hour (kmph) speed, that helped disperse pollutants lingering in the airshed since Diwali. On Thursday, AQI improved from 330 (very poor) the previous day to 282 (poor). The city's air quality index had worsened pre-Diwali as wind speed slowed and temperature dipped on Oct 19. On Diwali, a thick layer of haze blanketed the city -- AQI touched 325 (very poor) -- as people burst crackers much beyond the two-hour evening window set ...Read More >
The 24-hour AQI clocked in at 461, recording one of the worst Decembers ever documented. High moisture levels, cool temperatures, and stagnant winds conspired to keep pollutants hovering low, dimming the sky. A dense blanket of fog enveloped Delhi-NCR on Monday morning, severely reducing visibility across roads and disrupting normal movement, while the region continued to grapple with toxic air quality in the 'severe-plus' category. The deteriorating weather and pollution conditions also impacte ...Read More >
Ranchi: The long awaited Ratu road flyover was inaugurated by Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday. The 4.18 km long, four-lane project has been built at a cost of Rs 560 crore. Once opened for traffic movement, the flyover will boost the city traffic by doing away with the perennial traffic congestion at Ratu road. Besides inaugurating the flyover, Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for two new flyover projects at the OTC ground in the evening. Various MPs, state transport minister Deepak Birua among others were present on the occasion.Calling the newly ...Read More >
Meanwhile, Delhi experienced partially cloudy skies on Friday, with no rainfall recorded. (File) ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Rainfall and winds helped Delhi avoid a sharp pollution rise after Dussehra celebrations * Delhi's 24-hour average AQI was 88 on Friday, categorised as satisfactory * Post-Dussehra pollution spikes have been common, with AQI exceeding 200 in recent years Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Switch To Beeps Mode New Delhit: A combin ...Read More >
Stage I of GRAP is implemented when the AQI exceeds 200. Stage II (Very Poor) comes into effect when it crosses 300, Stage III (Severe) at levels above 350, and Stage IV (Severe Plus) when the AQI goes beyond 400. New Delhi: Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'poor' category for the first time this season with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 211 on Tuesday ahead of Diwali. It forced Commission for Air Quality Management to impose stage I of Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) in Delhi-NCR. The ...Read More >
New Delhi and its sprawling metropolitan region -- home to more than 30 million people -- are regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals, with acrid smog blanketing the skyline each winter. Cooler air traps pollutants close to the ground, creating a deadly mix of emissions from crop burning, factories and heavy traffic. But pollution has also spiked due to days of fireworks set off to mark Diwali, the major Hindu festival of lights, which culminates on Monday night. The Supreme Court relaxed this month a blanket ban on fireworks over Diwali to allow the use of the less-pollut ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) - Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali on Monday as lamps illuminated homes and streets across the country to mark the Hindu festival symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. Diwali, derived from the word "Deepavali," meaning "a row of lights," is typically celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts. The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November. Shoppers crowded markets to buy flowers, lanterns and candles. The celebrations were most visible in Ayodhya city in Uttar Pradesh state. Hindus belie ...Read More >
Despite unseasonal rainfall, pollution levels refuse to drop with BKC, Malad, Deonar, all in the 'very poor' AQI category The festive fervour in Mumbai on Tuesday was marred by excessive pollution and smoggy air. As the Diwali festivities continued, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged deeper into the 'very poor' zone, with thick smog settling over key neighbourhoods stretching from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Byculla and Malad. Despite the unseasonal showers across the city in the even ...Read More >
NOIDA: A day after Diwali, the air in Gautam Budh Nagar continued to remain toxic, showing no significant improvement despite a visible decline in festive fireworks. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI on Tuesday stood at 320 in Noida and 282 in Greater Noida. Data from the past two days revealed little change - Noida's AQI was 325 on Monday and 320 on Sunday, while Greater Noida recorded 282 and 287, respectively. The district's air had already turned foul even before the first sparkler was lit. The comparison with past years only highlighted the decline. In 202 ...Read More >
Delhi Air Pollution: As the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the 'very poor' category, increasing the risks of health problems, especially respiratory issues, the former director of AIIMS Delhi, Dr Randeep Guleria, on Wednesday said that those who have underlying respiratory conditions, need to be extra careful. Guleria, who is also the Chairman of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Medanta The Medicity, noted that to some extent, the rising air pollution can be termed a public health emergency because it is going to lead to increased symptoms, with more people coming to t ...Read More >
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan is all set to become the next Maharashtra BJP chief as he filed his nomination for the post of party's state president on Monday. Mr. Chavan presented the nomination forms to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, who has been appointed as a central observer for the elections by the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on this occasion. With no other nomination being filed for the post, Mr. Chavan is certain to become the next state president of Maharashtra BJP, said party leaders. The ...Read More >
The results have also cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of 'green firecrackers', which were introduced to reduce pollution. Despite a sharp 77.5% drop in stubble burning this year, Delhi's air quality plummeted to its worst post-Diwali level in five years on Tuesday morning. The city woke up on Tuesday to a thick blanket of smog, with PM2.5 levels averaging 488 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly 100 times higher than the World Health Organization's safe limit. On Diwali night, readings to ...Read More >
Entrepreneur and managing director of Homestays and villas and Mangalya destination weddings, Siddharth Bakaria, was the latest victim of the horror show that the city has turned into. Delhi's air and its declining quality have unfortunately become the hallmark of the general discourse of the country towards the end of the year and almost all throughout Winter. Lungs are Burning To no one's surprise, the Winter of 2024 is no different, with the landlocked capital city breaking the most undesirable records, very early on in the season. According to reports, Delhi and its neighbouring region ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a first-of-its-kind move for the national capital, Delhi is preparing to witness artificial rain in an ambitious attempt to reduce air pollution in the city. The flight plan for the cloud seeding operation, prepared by IIT Kanpur, has been submitted to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune for technical coordination, with the trial set to take place between July 4 and 11, according to the reports. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Saturday that "conditions are not suitable for cloud seeding until July 3, but a flight window has been propos ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jul 17 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh's capital city has secured the third position in the category of urban spaces with population exceeding 10 lakh, while Prayagraj was adjudged the Cleanest Ganga City in the ninth edition of the Swachh Survekshan. Lucknow also became the first city in the state to achieve a 7-star Garbage Free City rating in the 2024-25 survey. Gorakhpur achieved double success, ranking third in the Safai Mitra Surakshit Sheher category and fourth among cities with a population between 3 to 10 lakh. Agra has been recognised as the Emerging Clean City of Uttar Pradesh, securi ...Read More >
NEW DELHI -- Thick smog blanketed India's capital Tuesday, a day after millions celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali with fireworks that sent air pollution soaring to hazardous levels. Revelers in New Delhi burst firecrackers late into Monday night, filling the air with smoke and fine particles that mixed with seasonal pollution and stagnant weather conditions. By Tuesday morning, the city's Air Quality Index had climbed above 350 in several neighborhoods, a level considered "severe" and dangerous to breathe, according to the World Health Organization's daily recommended maximum exposure. ...Read More >