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New Delhi/Noida/Gurgaon: As the legal sale of green firecrackers opened Saturday, crowds thronged markets, examining and bargaining, reviving a pre-Diwali ritual that was paused in recent years because of ban. However, conventional crackers, far more numerous and easily available than the green ones, were selling freely across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurgaon, flouting SC orders.TOI reporters who went across NCR found certified green crackers, known by their QR codes with licensing details, were available in the main markets, but so were banned conventional crackers with green labels and fake QR codes and many more variants - like the highly polluting rockets and bombs - that did not even bother with a greenwash. Roadside stalls did not have green crackers.At Old Lajpat Rai Market, Bhagirath Palace, Dariba Kalan and Sadar Bazaar in Delhi, sellers managed both crowds and illicit trade deftly. Crackers were hidden under makeshift covers to avoid detection, and code words such as "bachchon ka" (for kids) and "bada" (big) were used to distinguish between green and conventional crackers. Delhi had issued 168 licences for green crackers.Some vendors claimed to sell only permitted varieties, while others did not shy away from mentioning "special" stocks, which meant the banned varieties. "You'll only find the ones labelled green near the gate. If you go deeper into the market, you will get all kinds of crackers there," a seller in Old Lajpat Rai Market said. Several stalls placed an array of rockets and flowerpots on the front shelves to catch customers' attention, all stamped with fake green logos. Dealers said online trade has been on for days, with conventional crackers being sold through social media and delivered at home. Oblivious to green and non-green, codes, labels and certifications, the chatter at markets was about finding the right varieties. There were people who went back with cartons and suitcases stuffed with 'sutli bombs' and 'chatar patar'.Parmjeet Singh Pamma, president of the Sadar Bazar Bari Market Traders' Association, said they had been actively assisting police in tracking down illegal sellers and had deployed their own vehicles for inspections. At Chandni Chowk's Bhagirath Palace, a 28-year-old resident of Ramesh Nagar faced a dilemma while shopping for his children. "I don't think the ban should have been lifted. Delhi's pollution is horrible. But I like celebrating the festival with my kids," he said. Asked about the open sale of polluting crackers, a Delhi govt official said, "Delhi govt has deployed 33 teams led by SDMs across the city to ensure strict compliance with Supreme Court guidelines. These teams have been conducting regular inspections in markets and other public areas to monitor violations."In Noida's Atta Market, Nagendra Kumar, a year-round utensil seller-turned-seasonal firecracker vendor, when asked about the authenticity of his stock, said, "Can anyone manufacture special formula green crackers within a week?" Although his stocks carried the 'CSIR-NEERI-India' logo, they were fake because there were no QR codes. "I paid the required fees for this stall," he said. In Ghaziabad's Indirapuram, shops lined the roadside in front of Makanpur, offering a wide range of conventional crackers to buyers. Though Saffiuddin, a trader, claimed his products were green-certified and sourced from major manufacturers in Tamil Nadu, his stocks included both crackers with QR codes (green) and those without. "It's up to you to check the veracity of the items you are buying. We have been told these are green crackers by the trader who supplied these to us," said Shahbaz, a street-side seller."What I'm looking for is crackers that are good and cheap. If I get a box of branded flowerpots for Rs 350 and another that costs merely Rs 150, I'll prefer to buy an equal quantity of both," said Neha Agrawal, who was shopping for her children. Strangely, Ramlila grounds in Noida and Ghaziabad, earmarked for legal cracker sales, remained empty till Saturday evening. Gurdayal Singh, a fire department official in Noida's Sector 46 Ramlila Maidan, expressed uncertainty about their duties as no stalls were set up. "Maybe, the contractor will get the grounds ready by night. Only then will the shops be set up from Sunday morning," he speculated. Rajeev Narain Mishra, additional CP (law and order), Noida, said all police stations, under which cracker selling points have been allotted, were keeping a watch to ensure that the court's orders were strictly followed. "Yes, there were some sellers who were found to be selling illegal crackers. More than 40kg of illegal crackers were seized by the Sector 20 police station team. All our personnels are working to ensure there is no violation of the court's orders," Mishra said. Gurgaon's markets mirrored the trend, but here, traditional crackers were sold more discreetly and at inflated prices in areas like Sector 46, Palam Vihar, and Old Gurgaon. Without temporary licences issued this year due to the short notice and lack of applications, vendors concealed their stock among other goods, selling only to trusted customers. "I did not want to take a chance. So, I sold traditional crackers only to those who are known to us and those who specifically asked for it," a shopkeeper in Sector 46 said. Authorities pledged action. Gurgaon's deputy commissioner, Nishant Yadav, announced the formation of enforcement teams to ensure only green crackers were sold and urged the public to report violations.Brijesh Goyal, chairperson of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), said illegal sales had dented their prospects. "While all traders under us are licensed, many others had procured crackers illegally earlier because they weren't optimistic after such a long-standing ban. With more time to obtain licences and source crackers legally, this could have been avoided."
New Delhi, Nov 26: A day after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the PAN 2.0, the Income Tax Department on Tuesday issued a detailed clarification on the project based on a list of 11 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide taxpayers with a deeper insight into the new system. 1. What is PAN 2.0? PAN 2.0 Project is an e-Governance project of the Income Tax Department for re-engineering the business processes of taxpayer registration services. The objective of the project is to enhance the quality of PAN services through the adoption of the latest technology. Under this pr ...Read More >
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday instructed officials to formulate proposals for constructing an iconic Deep-Technology building in the capital city of Amaravati. "I had built Hi-Tech City structure in Hyderabad to promote information technology. Now, it is time to embrace Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence to take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the latest technology," he underlined while reviewing the New IT Policy at the state secretariat. The Chief Minister announced that the state government will provide Rs 25 lakh as seed fundin ...Read More >
Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir's Road Transport Corporation (RTC), a crucial backbone of public transportation, has raised serious concerns over the barring of its buses from entering Srinagar city limits. The move has triggered alarm within the Corporation, with officials cautioning about significant disruptions to public transport services and daily commutes, alongside substantial financial losses for the RTC. The restriction, in effect since November 4 when the maiden session of the Assembly commenced, is causing a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh to the Corporation. In a lette ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 4 (PTI) "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of rupees were recovered from your premises," the Supreme Court on Wednesday told former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, held in an alleged cash-for-job scam in the state. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, which reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Chatterjee, questioned the enforcement directorate (ED) over his continued incarceration saying he cannot be kept inside for an indefinite period. "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of Rupees were recovered from your premises. Wha ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Karnataka government and the Centre should resolve the issue in connection with the release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to the state for drought management. The matter came up before a bench comprising justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, requested the bench that he needed some time to file an affidavit in the matter. "You should resolve it," the bench said. During the hearing, the bench queried, how much amount has been released so far? ...Read More >
Kareena Kapoor Khan brought a deeply personal and touching element to her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by requesting him to write a heartfelt message for her two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, who were unable to attend the event. A memorable highlight from the gathering showcased Kareena watching intently, her expression radiating pride and warmth, as the Prime Minister inscribed a note dedicated to her children, affectionately called "Tim and Jeh."Kareena Kapoor Khan added ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Congress on Wednesday gave a notice to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the Lok Sabha to discuss the recent statements made by a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court. "I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely:- The recent statements made by a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court..." said K. Suresh, Congress MP and party's Chief Whip in the Lower Hosue. He said in the notice ...Read More >
Delhi's air pollution continues to worsen, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a hazardous 490, despite the government's 21-point plan to tackle the issue. The city’s residents are struggling to breathe, even indoors, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients facing respiratory problems. The pollution crisis is exacerbated by the lack of cooperation among Delhi and neighboring states, and the central government, with each blaming the other. This pollution not only threatens public health but also jeopardizes Delhi's economic future, as it could drive away professionals and harm business ...Read More >
The Indian government launched the Rs. 1,435 crore PAN 2.0 project. Announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the project aims to establish the PAN number as a common business identifier across all government digital systems. PAN 2.0 Project Launch The Rs. 1,435 crore PAN 2.0 the project aims to establish the PAN number as a common business identifier across all government digital systems. CCEA Approval The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the project under the Income Tax Department. As per Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaish ...Read More >
The Congress leadership was aware it was losing ground to the ruling Mahayuti following the gains made during the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, several party leaders privy to an internal survey less than a month ahead of the November 20 elections have said, adding that the outcome shouldn't exactly come as a shock. As per a report in The Indian Express, several party leaders it spoke to admitted that a survey conducted in 103 "strong MVA seats" showed the Maha Vikas Aghadi ahead in only 44 seats out of 54 it was ahead in during the Lok Sabha elections. On the contrary, the Mahayuti, wh ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs Tuesday staged a walkout from the Odisha assembly, accusing the ruling BJP of failing to control prices of essential commodities and resolve the potato crisis in the state. The issues were debated in the House over the admissibility of an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on price rise of vegetables, pulses, edible oil and fuel. The opposition members took exception to comments made by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra that adverse climate conditions, rates in international and domestic markets, and less production by ...Read More >
Hathras, Dec 10 (VOICE) At least seven people lost their lives in a major road accident near Jaitpur village on the Bareilly-Mathura road in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday. A collision between a container truck and a passenger vehicle, commonly referred to as a 'Magic,' resulted in the fatalities. Several others sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, officials said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He directed district authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured an ...Read More >
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced several pre-election promises targeting auto drivers. These include a ₹10 lakh insurance policy, ₹1 lakh for daughters' marriages, a biannual ₹2,500 uniform allowance, free coaching for their children, and the relaunch of the 'PoochO' ride-booking app. Kejriwal and the AAP are campaigning to secure a third term in the upcoming February elections.Ahead of crucial Delhi assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal promised several measures for auto dri ...Read More >
Lalu Yadav was reacting to Nitish Kumar's plans to launch the Mahila Samwad Yatra, an initiative aimed at directly engaging with women in Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday stoked controversy after passing a sexist remark at Nitish Kumar's upcoming women's rally, saying that the Bihar Chief Minister was attending it to "ogle at women." Yadav was reacting to Kumar's plans to launch the Mahila Samwad Yatra, an initiative aimed at directly engaging with women in Bihar. "Nain sekne ja ra ...Read More >
day after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the PAN 2.0, the Income Tax Department on Tuesday issued a detailed clarification on the project based on a list of 11 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide taxpayers with a deeper insight into the new system. PAN 2.0 Project is an e-Governance project of the Income Tax Department for re-engineering the business processes of taxpayer registration services. The objective of the project is to enhance the quality of PAN services through the adoption of the latest technology. Under this project, ITD is consolidating all processes ...Read More >
TARC Limited announced today that it has sold 50 per cent of its TARC ISHVA residential project, valued at ₹1,350 crore, just two months after its launch in September 2024. The luxury residential development on Golf Course Extension Road in Gurugram's Sector 63A spans 1.35 million square feet and offers four-side open residences with Aravali Hills views. The shares of TARC Limited were trading at ₹212 up by ₹6.29 or 3.06 per cent on the NSE today at 11.57 am. Amar Sarin, Managing Director & CEO, highlighted the project's success, attributing it to the company's customer-centric strategy and ...Read More >
In a heart-wrenching incident, a 30-year-old Dalit youth, who was brutally thrashed, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a hospital in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, and four people have been arrested in this connection. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Subhashpura police station on Tuesday, however, the matter came to light after a video surfaced on social media showing four persons beating the youth with sticks and pipes mercilessly. In the video, the victim, identified as Vishnu Jatav, was seen being thrashed by a group of men in a field in Indergarh vil ...Read More >
Ghaziabad: The police arrested a couple on Wednesday for robbing a pedestrian in Crossings Republik on Nov 15. Wave City ACP Lipi Nagayach said unknown individuals on a scooter snatched a woman's gold chain near Ajnara market in the Crossings Republik area on Nov 15. Once the woman filed a complaint, a case was registered under section 304 (snatching) of BNS, and police teams were formed to probe the incident. "With the help of CCTV footage, manual input, surveillance, and a tip-off, Vivek Pandey (29) and his wife Kirti Sharma (28) were nabbed from Chitrawan society in the Crossings Republik ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: An Enforcement Directorate team undertaking searches in a cyber fraud linked money laundering case was allegedly attacked here on Thursday, officials said. The agency has registered a police FIR about the incident that took place at a farmhouse that was raided by ED officials in the Bijwasan area of southwest Delhi that falls under the Kapashera police station. An Enforcement Officer (EO) suffered minor injuries during the attack. He is continuing with the searches after he was given first aid, officials said. The probe pertains to a case against the PYYPL app. The alleged accus ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has given his approval to the reconstitution of Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, paving the way for govt to prepare a scheme to provide compensation to the construction workers who lost work due to the implementation of GRAP IV provisions. The board was not in place for the last couple of years. While giving his nod to its reconstitution, LG directed that immediate steps should be taken to implement Supreme Court directions to provide subsistence allowance to workers affected due to restrictions on construction activities be ...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 >
Noida: Police on Tuesday arrested more than 160 protesting farmers, including the president of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad Sukhbir Yadav 'Khalifa', who were holding a sit-in at the 'Dalit Prerna Sthal' in Noida after their march to Delhi on land compensation and other demands was stopped a day earlier. The protesters, who had gathered in Gautam Buddh Nagar from different parts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday on the call of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), had threatened to resume their march to the national capital if their demands were not met within a week. Condemning the police action, the SKM said it ...Read More >
The Supreme Court overturned a Madras High Court decision. The high court had refused to dismiss defamation charges against Union minister L Murugan. Murugan faced these charges over statements made in 2020. The Supreme Court accepted Murugan's argument. He said he did not intend to defame the Murasoli Trust. The case is now closed.The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed criminal defamation proceedings against Union minister L Murugan on a complaint filed by the Chennai-based Murasoli Trust for his ...Read More >
Delhi residents breathed easier Thursday as air quality improved to 'moderate' after a month of severe pollution. The AQI dropped to 161, though some areas still experienced 'poor' air quality. Cooler temperatures and mist accompanied the improved air, with the minimum temperature reaching 9 degrees Celsius. The Supreme Court maintained GRAP-IV restrictions, demanding compensation for construction workers from NCR states.Residents in Delhi took a sigh of relief on Thursday as the air quality inde ...Read More >
Muzaffarnagar (UP), Dec 6 (PTI) A teacher who asked other students to slap a Muslim boy in a school here surrendered at a POCSO court and was released on bail, an official said on Friday. Tripta Tyagi was caught last year in a video asking children to slap a boy in a school where she taught. Additional District Judge (POCSO) Alka Bharti on Thursday granted her bail and ordered her to furnish two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. She posted the matter for further hearing on Friday. Kapil Ahlawat, Tyagi's lawyer, told PTI that Tyagi had surrendered in the Special POCSO court on Thursday and sought ...Read More >
New Delhi: The BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicle ban has been lifted in Delhi after the Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to the moderate category. The Supreme Court allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ease restrictions due to the improvement in the national capital's air pollution situation. Delhi had been facing high pollution levels, which led CAQM to enforce Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The court has now asked the commission to apply GRAP Stage 2. ...Read More >
Delhi is facing worsening pollution and erratic weather patterns, with the air quality regularly reaching dangerous levels. This is partly due to climate change, with temperature rises and unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by global warming. The industrial revolution has played a significant role, contributing to the rise in global temperatures. The effects are already being felt, with 2024 witnessing record-breaking heat in India. Despite this, there is little action from society or leadership, with courts repeatedly stepping in to address issues like pollution and farm fires. The need f ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed further recovery of an outstanding tax demand from news portal NewsClick, directing the company's banker not to release any more money to the tax department based on a 2023 notice, and allowing the portal to use its two bank accounts for daily operations. The order was passed by a bench headed by justice BV Nagarathna on an application moved by PPK Newsclick Studio Limited, which alleged that ICICI Bank was not allowing the company to use its accounts despite a top court order to this effect passed on August 9. The tax department had raised the demand again ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Monday (December 2, 2024) refused to relax emergency measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) dealing with air pollution in the national capital till it noticed a downward trend in the AQI level. A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih further sought the presence of the chief secretaries of NCR states to appear through video-conferencing to inform it whether or not any compensation was paid to the construction workers who were without work owing to the restrictions. Delhi air pollution: Air quality in Capital plunges to 'very po ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh administration has imposed restrictions on the entry of outsiders into violence-hit Sambhal until December 10, with officials urging leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his planned visit on Wednesday. Moradabad divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said there is a need for calm in the region, and that "any provocation could escalate the situation" in the district. "The situation in Sambhal is normal right now, but tensions persist," Singh said. "The District Magistrate has banned the entry of people from outside until 10 December ...Read More >