India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: In response to worsening air quality, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has rolled out an aggressive action plan to combat pollution across Lutyens' Delhi. The initiative includes procuring a set of new cleaning machines, deploying advanced cleaning equipment and expanding dust suppression systems. NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the civic body is in the process of procuring 13 new mechanical road sweepers (MRS) by Dec-end. "The new machines include five CNG-operated MRS, four battery-operated small sweeping machines and four battery-operated ride-on sweepers, covering 44 avenue roads under our jurisdiction," he said. The new machines, officials said, will expand the council's capacity to maintain dust-free roads and reduce particulate emissions.To further curb airborne dust, seven additional mobile anti-smog guns will be added, raising the total to 28. "We're urging private high-rises to install anti-smog guns on rooftops. Three NDMC buildings already have them, and seven more are in the process of installing them," Chahal said.Additionally, NDMC is introducing mist-spraying systems mounted on electric poles to tackle roadside dust pollution. These systems, installed at a height of 5-6 metres, spray fine water mist to settle suspended particles. "Fifteen units are active along Lodhi Road, with 30 more planned for Shanti Path and Africa Avenue. Tenders have been issued to expand the system to 1,323 poles over 29.5 km. The rollout will occur in two phases, covering 24 major roads," Chahal said. The council has also launched night cleaning drives in three key commercial zones including Connaught Place, Khan Market and Sarojini Nagar to tackle footpath dust and litter accumulation. "We have deployed three pressure-jetting machines and one litter picker for these markets. The plan is to extend the drive to all 22 markets next year by procuring 10 additional water sprinklers, five pressure-jetting machines, nine litter pickers and 10 floor-cleaning machines," officials said.To maintain tree health and reduce dust, NDMC has retrofitted nine water tankers with pressure jet pumps, each covering 5 km per trip. Twelve more tankers will be upgraded soon.
New Delhi/Noida, Jun 27 (PTI) End-of-life vehicles detected at fuel stations or found parked at public places will be impounded and a penalty of Rs 10,000 imposed on four-wheeler owners and Rs 5,000 on two-wheeler owners starting July 1, officials said on Friday. EOL vehicles are diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Irrespective of the states they are registered in, they will not be given fuel in Delhi starting July 1, according to directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) earlier. Around 500 fuel stations in Delhi have inst ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) The Delhi government on Thursday urged the Centre's air quality panel to immediately suspend the fuel ban on overage vehicles and said it will also make "all out efforts" to resolve issues related to restrictions on the movement of end-of-life vehicles on the city's roads. In his letter to Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairman Rajesh Verma, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the fuel ban is not feasible and that it cannot be implemented due to technological challenges. The move three days after the ban came into effect in the national capit ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to defer the enforcement of a recent directive banning fuel supply to end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, citing serious technological challenges and growing public discontent. The request came through a letter sent by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who reiterated the government's support for air pollution mitigation but called the fuel ban "premature and potentially counterproductive." The ban, mandated under CAQM's Direction No. 89 dated April 23, came into effect on July 1 and prohibits petrol ...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 >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): In view of rising pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. The action came after Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 209, which falls under the 'Poor' category. The decision was a comprehensive review by the CAQM Sub-Committee, which convened on Saturday and reviewed the air quality scenario in the region, as well as the IMD/IITM forecasts and air quality index of Delhi comprehensively. 'The AQI of Delhi has shown an increa ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Starting Tuesday, the Delhi government is planning to stop the sale of petrol and diesel to end-of-life (EoL) or over-age vehicles - a move aimed at fighting vehicular emission-linked air pollution in the Capital, an official said. Petrol pump owners on Monday confirmed that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and other devices linked to the transport ministry's data bank have been installed at their outlets to identify EoL vehicles. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a direction that all EoL vehicles identified throu ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...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 >
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 >
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 [India], June 29 (ANI): The Delhi government has requested Rs 1,000 crore in funding from the Central government to deploy new technology and implement measures aimed at reducing the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital, Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Sunday during an inspection of Nehru Park. Minister Singh visited Nehru Park along with Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, as part of the government's initiative to install air purifiers in the area. Also Read | US: 24-Year-Old Indian Woman Simran Simran Goes Missing Days After Arriving for Arranged Mar ...Read More >
Delhi's Artificial Rain Through Cloud Seeding: To combat air pollution, Delhi is set to witness the first trial of artificial rain, with cloud seeding operations between July 4 and 11. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the flight plan has been submitted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune. He said the current weather conditions are not suitable for cloud seeding until July 3, but a tentative flight window has been proposed between July 4 and 11. He added that a proposal has also been sent to the Directorat ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major move to combat air pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a strict fuel ban on 'end-of-life' (EoL) vehicles -- petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years -- from being refuelled at petrol pumps across the national capital. Authorities confirmed that two motorcycles have already been identified and seized under the new enforcement, and the vehicles will be scrapped in accordance with the official policy. The crackdown follows the alarming findings by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose Novembe ...Read More >
New Delhi: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given the final nod to Delhi govt for cloud seeding in the city. However, the govt said that, based on suggestions from meteorologists, trials would now take place between Aug 30 and Sept 10, instead of the previously declared July 4 to 11.Delhi govt has also finalised a tentative flight plan with a map of the area over which the cloud seeding experiment will be conducted. The sorties have been planned over Alipur, Bawana, Rohini, Burari, Pavi Sadakpur and parts of Eastern Peripheral Expressway. A fully equipped aircraft, VT-IIT (Cess ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the state government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region on a petition challenging fines and prosecution against fuel retailers for violating restrictions imposed on refuelling more than 10-year-old diesel and more than 15-year-old petrol cars. From Tuesday, petrol pumps in the NCR stopped refuelling these so-called end-of-life vehicles, following a notice from CAQM. Vehicular pollution is cited as one of the key contributors to pollution in NCR, among the world's most polluted u ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi High Court has agreed to examine a plea challenging the city government's policy to penalise and prosecute the petrol pump owners if they refuel 'end-of-life' (EoL) vehicles -- petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years. A bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna issued notice and sought responses from the Delhi government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on the plea filed by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association. As per the petition, the "arbitrary" and "irrational" SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) iss ...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 >
Bhubaneswar, June 5 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday urged the people to resolve to end plastic pollution and maintain a healthy, clean environment. "Today, let us pledge to eliminate plastic pollution and create a healthier, cleaner environment for our citizens," Majhi said while addressing the state-level World Environment Day event. He noted that plastic has become an integral part of our lives, especially single-use plastics. Stressing that plastic waste must be ad ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Fresh spells of rain lashed parts of the national capital on Saturday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an 'orange' alert, warning of more showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds throughout the day. Light to moderate rainfall was reported across east, west, south, and southeast Delhi, with the IMD forecasting wind speeds between 30 to 50 km/h in the coming hours. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 28.7 degree Celsius, 0.8 degrees above the seasonal average, whil ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre and Rajasthan governments over the reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve for the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, saying the move would be "ecologically devastating". The opposition party also said that with the Rajasthan and Union environment ministers both being from Alwar, this "double engine" cannot be supporting such a move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that a plan to redraw the boundaries of Rajasthan's ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said the government is taking concrete steps to make the national capital pollution-free and green. "Public transportation is being rapidly converted to electric vehicles, which will not only reduce pollution but also provide Delhi residents with clean and affordable transportation," said CM Gupta in a post on X. Elaborating on steps being taken to clean the city's air, she said, "Dust pollution is being effectively controlled at construction sites and major roads through technologies like smoke guns and sprinkler ...Read More >
At Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, on Monday, a teacher played the role of a vegetable seller, complete with props, while students acted as buyers. "How much is this vegetable for?" asked the teacher, setting off lively exchanges -- all over a laptop screen. Advertisement https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png This roleplay session, part of an online lesson about markets and vegetables, is one of many such creative strategies teachers are adopting as schools across Delhi shift to remote learning due to hazardous air pollution levels. The air quality in Delhi plummeted to "se ...Read More >
Bhopal: After decades of lingering uncertainty, the disposal of 307 tonnes of toxic waste (earlier 347 tonnes) from the infamous Union Carbide factory responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy, has now been disposed. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had issued directives in this regard earlier to dispose it in maximum 72 days. "The process, which began from the evening of May 5 was completed on June 29 evening," a senior officer in the MP Pollution Control Board told IANS. It was burnt at a private facility in Pithampur in Dhar district near Indore, amid protests by locals. "The incineration proc ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday criticised municipal bodies for showing "complete apathy and insensitivity" in maintaining public toilets in the capital."We are staking claim to host the Olympics, and we don't even have clean public toilets in the city," a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Tushar Rao Gedela remarked, terming the status of public conveniences "hurting and unfortunate". It noted that "municipal authorities and development bodies like MCD, DDA and NDMC have exhibited complete apathy, insensitivity and even dereliction of duty as far as the maintenance of public con ...Read More >
American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, known for his quest to reverse aging, experienced the effects of Mumbai's air pollution during his India tour. Promoting his book Don't Die, Johnson detailed his discomfort despite using air purifiers and masks. He adhered to his rigorous health routine, carrying all his meals and supplements for the six-day trip. The visit included an exclusive meetup with prominent figures like Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, showcasing his dedication to health and longevity advocacy.Bryan Johnson, the American entrepreneur renowned for his anti-aging mission, has drawn atten ...Read More >
New Delhi/Noida, Jun 27 (PTI) End-of-life vehicles detected at fuel stations or found parked at public places will be impounded and a penalty of Rs 10,000 imposed on four-wheeler owners and Rs 5,000 on two-wheeler owners starting July 1, officials said on Friday. EOL vehicles are diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Irrespective of the states they are registered in, they will not be given fuel in Delhi starting July 1, according to directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) earlier. Also Read | UK F-35B Lightning II Stealth F ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi govt has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to enforce the ban on refuelling end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, with CNG pumps being exempted. According to a directive from Commission for Air Quality Management, beginning July 1, all EoL vehicles -- diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years -- will be prohibited from being refuelled in Delhi.The revised SOP states, "It is hereby clarified that CNG vehicles shall not be denied fuel. Accordingly, any reference to CNG in the SOP should be disregarded." The denial of fuel shall strictly apply on ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >