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Noida: Noise pollution spiked this Diwali, with levels well exceeding permissible limits both in the city and in Ghaziabad. Residential areas were the worst hit, with a monitoring station in Ghaziabad's Vasundhara recording 79 dB(A), around 50% higher than the highest permissible limit of 55 dB(A).Silence zones, too, saw noise levels surge.In Noida, the silence zone near Fortis Hospital recorded 64.8 dB(A) in the period between 6pm and midnight on Oct 20. Being a busy area, it is anyway noisy. On Oct 13, for instance, it recorded 59.7 dB(A). The Diwali night noise level was the highest in the area in three years. In 2024, it recorded 54.8 dB(A) pre-Diwali and 60.3 dB(A) post-Diwali, while in 2023, the readings were 58.9 dB(A) and 62.9 dB(A), respectively.UPPCB regional officer Reetesh Tiwari said that data showed noise levels in residential areas such as Sector 75 near Gardenia Gateway were also high. "The levels rose from 62.8 dB(A) before Diwali to 70.6 dB(A) on the festival night. We selected this location for reading for the first time and hence last year's data for comparison is unavailable," he said.According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), standard parameters for noise levels at silence zones are 50 dB(A) during the day and 40 dB(A) at night. In residential areas it is 65 dB(A) during the day and 55 dB(A) at night, and in commercial areas, it is 55 dB(A) and 45 dB(A), respectively. In industrial areas the standard levels are 75 dB(A) during the day and 70 dB(A) at night.The spike in noise pollution this Diwali was primarily due to the widespread bursting of firecrackers, highlighting the recurring challenge of ensuring compliance during festivals. Banned crackers were sold openly and Supreme Court's two-hour window for cracker-bursting was flouted across NCR. In Greater Noida, UPPCB recorded ambient noise level at four stations, of which three breached permissible levels.UPPCB regional officer Vikas Mishra said that Ace City in Greater Noida West, which is a residential area, recorded 58.54 dB(A) pre-Diwali and 70.07 dB(A) on Diwali. Jagat Farm, which is a commercial area, recorded 61.24 dB(A) pre-Diwali and 69.09 dB(A) on Diwali. In the Kailash Hospital silence zone, the levels were 55.88 dB(A) and 58.55 dB(A), respectively. The Site-C industrial zone recorded 62.01 dB(A) pre-Diwali and 66.88 dB(A) on Diwali.Ghaziabad also witnessed a sharp rise in noise pollution levels this Diwali, far exceeding the permissible limits across two monitored areas. Ankit Sharma, UPPCB Ghaziabad regional officer, said a noise monitoring station in Vasundhara Sector 16 recorded noise levels of 79.26 dB(A) on Diwali night, compared to 57.93 dB(A) before the festival. Similarly, in Model Town, also a residential area, the readings jumped from 60.28 dB(A) to 75.66 dB(A).However, this year's noise levels were better than 2024 for these two cities.Last year, Greater Noida's residential area recorded 61.41 dB(A) and 72.53dB(A), commercial area saw 64.41 dB(A) and 70.68dB(A), silence zone 56.86 dB(A) and 60.05 dB(A), and industrial zone 60.31 dB(A) and 69.85 dB(A), respectively.In Ghaziabad, too, noise levels were lower this Diwali compared to previous years. In 2024, Vasundhara recorded 59.4 dB(A) and 80 dB(A), while in 2023, it recorded 53.2 dB(A) and 87.1 dB(A). Model Town recorded 54.8 dB(A) and 79.3 dB(A) in 2023 and 62.1 dB(A) and 78 dB(A) in 2024.Meanwhile in Delhi, 23 of 26 monitoring stations exceeded standard decibel levels on Diwali night.At Karol Bagh, a commercial area, the peak noise level at 11 pm was 93.5 decibels -- slightly better than 94.5 dB(A) last Diwali. The noise levels remained well above the standard from 7 am on Diwali day till 2am on Oct 21. The noise was in the range of 66.5-93.5 dB(A). At 2 am, the noise level was 85.3 dBA, against the night-time standards of 55 dB(A). Karol Bagh's night-time average was 88.4 dBA, almost the same as last year's 88.7 dB(A). It was 84.5 dB(A) in 2023.Among silent zones, Sri Aurobindo Marg was loud with an average noise level of 65 dB(A). The peak level was 75.7 dB(A) at 9pm.
Chandigarh, Dec 18 (PTI) Noise levels exceeded the prescribed limits during singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh's concert here on Saturday, the Chandigarh administration told the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday. The submission was made by the administration before a division bench of the high court. "Strict action" has been recommended against the violators, the court was further informed. On December 13, the high court had allowed Dosanjh's event scheduled to take place the next evening, with a direction that the organisers comply with the noise pollution regulations. While greenlighti ...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. Around 500 fuel stations in Delhi have inst ...Read More >
New Delhi: The southwest monsoon has officially covered the entire country nine days before the usual date, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Sunday. Light to moderate rainfall was recorded across parts of Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, signalling the early arrival. The IMD declared that monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, West UP, Haryana, and Delhi on June 29, completing its full coverage across India. Normally, the monsoon covers the entire country by July 8. This makes 2025 one of the fastest monsoon advances in recent years, ...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 >
Gurgaon: The city could play host to India's Disneyland amusement park, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini has said, unveiling ambitious plans to develop areas off the Western Peripheral (KMP) Expressway as tourist destinations. Saini said govt was in talks with officials from Disney and has identified 500 acres of land near Pachgaon Chowk in Manesar for the project. A Disneyland in NCR will be "game-changing", the CM said, after meeting Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Delhi on Wednesday.He said the entertainment hub will bring economic, cultural and social benefit ...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 >
SHIVAMOGGA: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge across Sharavathi backwaters between Ambargodlu and Kalasavalli on National Highway 369E on Monday. The much-anticipated cable-stayed bridge over the Sharavathi backwaters is the longest in the state and second longest in the country, stretching 2.44 km. Built at Rs 472 crore, it will improve connectivity to several villages in Sagar and Hosanagara taluks, as well as to popular temples like Sigandur Chowdeshwari and Kollur Mookambike. The bridge was built to address long-standing co ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) put out a public notice on Sunday and asked the city residents to report any cases of firecrackers being stored, sold, manufactured, or used in Delhi. The decision came after a blanket ban put in place by the Delhi government on December 19, 2024, based on the direction of the Supreme Court. The notice said, "As per the order from the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India dated November 4, 2024, the Delhi government gave directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, on December 19, 2024. The order puts a complete ban on ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will on Thursday hear the suo motu case titled 'In Re: City hounded by strays, kids pay price,' amid an ongoing debate over the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. Animal activists, celebrities, and some political figures have voiced their objections to the order, highlighting that Delhi and other NCR cities like Noida and Gurugram lack the necessary infrastructure for carrying out the mass relocation within such a limited time. Additionally, many argued that displacing the dogs from their territories would simply ...Read More >
PATNA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is all set to embark on 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Rohtas district on August 17 to register a protest against how the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls was being conducted in the state. This comes at a time when the Opposition is ratcheting up its protest against the SIR and casting aspersions on the integrity of elections. AICC general secretary (organisation) and MP KC Venugopal held a meeting with the INDIA bloc leaders at Sasaram in Rohtas district on Wednesday and reviewed preparations for Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bi ...Read More >
Bengaluru Power Cuts: Citizens of Bengaluru brace yourself for long hours of power outages from June 29 and June 30. More than 100 areas will be impacted as BESCOM undertakes its quarterly maintenance work in various of its division. Bengaluru Power Outages June 29: According to the update by BESCOM on its X handler, there will be power outages in Kittaganahalli, Palasandra, Saptagiri, Maruthinagar, Sankapur, Raghavendra Nagar, Goolarivee, Baddihalli, Kesaramadu, C.M Badawan, Kalalli and SKS village on June 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. BESCOM's executive engineer has appealed to consumers to coop ...Read More >
Delhi's End-of-Life (EOL) vehicle ban takes effect on November 1 The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to defer the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) till November 1, 2025. According to PTI sources, the panel reviewed the fuel ban and decided to delay the enforcement of this ban till November. The report states that the End-of-Life (EOL) vehicle ban will be implemented across the National Capital Region (NCR), covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat. Delhi fuel ban: No end-of-life vehicles seizure According to PTI, CAQM has instructed the a ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) issued a public notice on Sunday, requesting citizens to report any instances of storing, selling, manufacturing, or bursting firecrackers within Delhi. The notice is based on the permanent firecracker ban implemented by the Delhi govt on Dec 19, 2024, in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines."In compliance with the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India order dated Nov 4, 2024, the govt of NCT of Delhi issued a direction under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 on Dec 19, 2024, for imposing a complete ban on the manufacturing, ...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 [India], July 3 (ANI): The Delhi NCT government on Thursday requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to place on hold the enforcement that mandates the denial of fuel to end-of-life vehicles in Delhi. In a letter to the Commission, Delhi Minister for Environment, Forests, and Wildlife, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, wrote that soon after the implementation of the direction, which came into effect on July 1, 2025, it was revealed that "certain issues" needed to be addressed before they could be fully implemented. Also Read | Happy Fourth of July 2025 Wishes and Quotes: Sen ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 9 (PTI) Realty firm Prestige Estates Projects Ltd on Wednesday reported a 4-fold jump in its sales bookings to Rs 12,126.4 crore in the first quarter of this fiscal, mainly on strong demand for its housing project in Ghaziabad. The company's sales bookings or pre-sales stood at Rs 3,029.5 crore in the year-ago period. In a regulatory filing, the Bengaluru-based company informed that it has clocked an all-time high sales bookings of Rs 12,126.4 crore during the quarter ended June 30, 2025, driven by the Delhi-NCR market, which contributed 59 per cent to total pre-sales. Presti ...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 >
Mumbai, June 29 (UNI) At least six mosques across the city have adopted a digital solution to maintain the call to prayer amid tightening restrictions on loudspeaker use. The "Online Azan" application, developed by a Tamil Nadu-based tech firm, delivers real-time azan broadcasts directly to worshippers' mobile devices. The initiative follows increased police enforcement of sound regulations, including visits to mosques like Mahim Juma Masjid where authorities warned of legal action against loudspeaker violations. "This led us to temporarily disable our sound system," said Fahad Khalil Patha ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Reacting to Delhi's fuel ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years from today, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that this step was impractical and the BJP did not know how to run the government. Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Didn't they have any other way of stopping old vehicles? Now that the Monsoon has hit Delhi, will they conduct a pilot project for artificial rain? You've (BJP) filled in small potholes but left the larger ones as they are. Owners of Petrol Pump Associations say that this step is impractical. Will the petrol pump operator fi ...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 >
Delhi mock drill: A massive disaster preparedness drill, 'Suraksha Chakra', was conducted across Delhi-NCR on Friday, with sirens, alerts, and emergency vehicles simulating a major earthquake. Held at over 55 locations, the mock exercise tested real-time response and coordination among agencies like NDRF, Delhi Police, and the armed forces. Temporary relief camps and rescue operations were also part of the simulation. Residents across Delhi-NCR are hearing sirens and receiving emergency alerts o ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is set to deploy joint enforcement teams from the transport department, traffic police, and MCD at fuel stations to implement the ban on refuelling end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) from July 1. These teams will monitor compliance on the ground and impound any vehicles found violating the directive. "We will deploy a team comprising transport and traffic police officials at each of these fuel stations. They will ensure that there is no law-and-order problem while implementing the system," said Ajay Chaudhary, Special Commissioner (Traffic), Delhi Police. End-of-lif ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Fuel retailers' body DPDA on Tuesday hailed the central government panel's decision to defer the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) or overage vehicles until November 1, saying the move gives them ample time to prepare for the implementation. According to sources, Centre's panel on air quality in Delhi-NCR CAQM on Tuesday decided to put on hold the implementation of the fuel ban on end-of-life or overage vehicles in the national capital until November 1. Also Read | PM Modi in Brasilia: PM Narendra Modi Receives Grand Welcome From Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ...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 >
Gurgaon/Noida: "In the pink of health," Pradeep Pachauri insists of his Nissan Sunny, which he has kept parked in the garage of his Gurgaon house in Sector 37D, of late, fearing the car will be seized if he takes it to Delhi. "My car is parked in the garage, and I have been taking cabs to go to Delhi. Imagine," says Pachauri, whose diesel-powered sedan has run less than 1 lakh km in 10 years. "The car is in good running condition. I have an up-to-date Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for it. When I bought the car in 2015, I also paid a one-time road tax for 15 years. Despite adhering ...Read More >
Guwahati: The East Khasi Hills district administration will enforce a new set of parking regulations from August 1 to improve urban mobility across Shillong in Meghalaya. The initiative, which spans seven key traffic zones including Sadar, Madanrting, Laban, Mawlai, Rynjah, Lumdiengjri, and Laitumkhrah, aims to organize parking in critical stretches of the city. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The Urban Affairs Department has introduced standard hourly parking fees, setting the rate at Rs 20 for two-wheelers and Rs 40 for four-wheelers, with z ...Read More >
Gandhinagar: In households in Gujarat's cities, cereals may take up less space in the grocery bill, but they still dominate the dinner plate. A new Union govt report shows that cereals, while accounting for just 3.8% of household spending, supply 35% of total calorie intake in cities. In villages, their role is even more dominant, making up 43% of calorie consumption while accounting for 4.5% of total spending.Cereals also account for a major portion of protein intake for people in Gujarat.These insights come from the Centre's latest "Nutritional Intake in India" report, which tracks food patt ...Read More >
Violators face legal action under Environment Protection Act The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has announced a comprehensive and immediate year-round ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and bursting of all types of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. This new directive, issued as a public notice on Sunday under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, applies to all individuals, organisations, and institutions, requiring strict compliance. ...Read More >
Delhi's air quality continues to deteriorate with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 304, falling under the "very poor" category. Several areas, including Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and Mundka, reported severe pollution levels, significantly impacting visibility and health. The National Capital Region (NCR) also saw poor air quality, with areas like Noida and Ghaziabad in the "poor" range. The Supreme Court upheld restrictions under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb pollution. Authorities urge residents to limit outdoor activities and take health precautions as smo ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): Merely two days after its rollout, the Delhi government has put its End-of-Life (EOL) vehicle impounding on hold, which involved a ban on providing fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Amid the backlash from opposition and public outcry, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that the city will not impound old vehicles for now and formally wrote to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to suspend the policy. Also Read | Fuel Ban Order on Overage Vehicles Not Feasible Now Due to Tec ...Read More >