Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday unveiled the Air Pollution Mitigation Action Plan 2026, announcing a slew of measures including strict enforcement of the 'no utility board, no fuel' rule, restrictions on polluting vehicles and promotion of clean transport and dust control.Announcing the plan, Gupta said it builds on the government's "historic" 2026-27 Green Budget and aims to translate clean air targets into measurable results.The action plan, announced after a high-level review meeting at Mukhyamantri Janseva Sadan, aims to address major sources of pollution such as vehicular emissions, road dust, construction activities, industrial emissions and biomass burning, officials said.Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said clean air and environmental protection are now at the core of the government's policy framework and will be supported by dedicated budgetary allocations and strict enforcement."This is more than a policy announcement, it is a law enforcement-driven campaign powered by resources, technology and rigorous oversight," she said.Taking a tough stance on vehicular pollution, Gupta said the "no PUC (pollution under control), no fuel" rule would be strictly enforced with the support of automatic number plate recognition cameras and digital tracking systems.Officials said that from November 1, trucks entering the national capital will be restricted to vehicles that comply with Bharat Phase (BS)-VI norms or are powered by CNG or electricity.The government will also regulate non-essential traffic inflows and may consider staggered office hours, work-from-home directives and additional restrictions on polluting vehicles during periods of severe air pollution, they added.As part of efforts to reduce vehicle emissions, the government plans to expand the city's bus fleet to 13,760 buses by 2028-29, with priority given to electric buses.Officials further said the government also plans to improve last-mile connectivity through better integration of metro and regional rapid transit system (RRTS) networks with feeder buses, electric vehicles and shared mobility services.To accelerate the development of electric vehicles, 32,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points will be installed in the next four years, while the proposed EV policy 2026 will focus on transitioning two-wheelers, commercial vehicles and government fleets to cleaner fuels, they said.The chief minister also announced measures to ease traffic congestion in 62 hotspots, including time-limited interventions, rollout of smart traffic management systems, smart parking solutions and pricing reforms.Recognizing that road dust is a major contributor to pollution, the government said it would deploy mechanical road sweepers, water trucks, anti-smog guns and spray systems on a large scale, with all operations monitored through GPS tracking and centralized dashboards.Officials said nearly 3,500 kilometers of roads will be redeveloped with paving, green buffer zones and utility pipes, while construction-related pollution will be monitored through an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered C&D Portal 2.0 for real-time tracking, geo-tagging and enforcement.The government has also set deadlines for cleaning up legacy landfills such as Okhla by July 2026, Bhalswa by December 2026 and Ghazipur by December 2027, and said strict action will be taken against biomass burning and non-compliant industrial units.They added that the city's air quality monitoring network will be expanded, a centralized green war room and comprehensive command and control center will be established, and environmental governance will be strengthened.District-level 'Vayu Rakshak' teams will also be deployed and the 311 platform will be upgraded to improve citizen reporting and participation, they said.The government has set a target of planting 7 million trees, shrubs and bamboos by 2026-27, with the long-term goal of planting over 10 million hectares of plantations across the city.Gupta said the action plan will also rely on innovation and public participation, involving research institutions, technology experts and start-ups to develop solutions to curb pollution."The 2026 Action Plan is more than an intention; it is a strong implementation model, with financial support, strict timelines and accountability at all levels. Clean air is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right and we are committed to achieving it," she said.The meeting was attended by Cabinet ministers Pravesh Sahib Singh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Pankaj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, representatives of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and traffic police and senior government officials, officials said.
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 >
Hyderabad: The Society for Employment Promotion and Training in Twin Cities (Setwin) announced plans to introduce electric mini buses in Hyderabad to combat pollution, which is decided in a recent review meeting. Setwin operates 37 buses across six routes, serving the public in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Setwin chairman N. Giridhar Reddy and managing director K. Venu Gopal Rao said the decision aligns with the RTA Act, which mandates the replacement of buses older than 15 years. The resolution to transition to electric buses has been passed, and plans a ...Read More >
Gurugram, 11 December 2024: Around USD 40 billion of investments are envisaged over the next 5-6 years for the development of Electric Vehicles (EV) & ancillary industries in India. However, the deployment of these funds will rely upon successful implementation of government policies, charging infrastructure ramp-up and domestic manufacturing capacity scale-up. As per Colliers' latest report "EVs in India: Renewed Vigour in Electric Mobility", about two-thirds of the planned investments, can potentially materialize in the lithium-ion battery segment alone. Interestingly, despite slower than an ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Centre is likely to build a new 6-7 km Metro line from Indraprastha station to North Block, connecting Bharat Mandapam, C Hexagon at India Gate, Kartavya Path, Central Secretariat, and the proposed Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at the North and South Blocks. The underground corridor will provide connectivity to all the 10 proposed govt buildings along the Kartavya Path and India Gate, Delhi's most popular tourist spots. Sources said the proposed stretch will be an extension of the 12.3 km Inderlok-Indraprastha Metro corridor (Green Line), which was approved by the Union cabinet in Mar ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Atishi on Thursday described Aam Admi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as a prominent leader and said he is the first leader who understood the pain of women. "Arvind Kejriwal, the prominent leader, is the first leader in the history of this country who understood the pain of women. The biggest concern for women is that they have to stretch out their hands before a man even for their humble needs. In childhood, it is before their parents, before their spous ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Atishi on Thursday described Aam Admi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as a prominent leader and said he is the first leader who understood the pain of women. "Arvind Kejriwal, the prominent leader, is the first leader in the history of this country who understood the pain of women. The biggest concern for women is that they have to stretch out their hands before a man even for their humble needs. In childhood, it is before their parents, before their spouses when they grow up and in old age, before their children," CM Atishi told ANI. "To fulfil this n ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Tata Motors on Thursday said it will increase prices of its trucks and buses portfolio by up to 2 per cent effective January 1, 2025, citing rising input costs. The price increase is to offset the rise in input costs, Tata Motors said in a statement. While the price increase will vary as per individual model and variant, it will be applicable across the entire range of trucks and buses, it added. Already passenger vehicle makers, including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors, along with luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi have announced that th ...Read More >
Traffic Diversions for oath-taking: The swearing-in ceremony of the new Maharashtra Chief Minister will be held at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai tomorrow, December 5. Mumbai Traffic Police has issued an advisory in view of the event. The traffic diversions will remain in place from 12 PM tomorrow till the end of the programme. Devendra Fadnavis was on Wednesday unanimously elected as Maharashtra BJP legislature party's leader, paving the way for his swearing-in as the chief minister for a third time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders are set to attend the grand swearing-in cerem ...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 >
Mumbai: The death toll in Monday's BEST bus crash rose to seven and the number of injured to 42 even as the driver, Sanjay More, booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, claimed he had noticed a spark and mistakenly accelerated the bus instead of applying brakes. Seeking More's custody, police said they want to investigate if he intentionally used the vehicle as a weapon. The bus on Route 332 had accelerated on a congested 200m stretch near Kurla station hitting vehicles and pedestr ...Read More >
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 14 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday took a potshot at Lok Sabha LoP (Leader of Opposition) Rahul Gandhi over a tussle between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections saying that they (Congress) make friends in the morning and fight at night. Vijayvargiya further said that now whether these people abuse or praise was not important and the public knew everything. "Sometimes they (Congress) shake hands and sometimes they break each other's hands. It is their culture (sanskaar ...Read More >
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], January 21: SWITCH Mobility Ltd, a part of the Hinduja Group, has unveiled the SWITCH IeV8, a revolutionary electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) in the 7.2T category catering to mid-mile logistics. Designed with sustainability and operational efficiency at its core, the SWITCH IeV8 is set to transform the logistics sector in India. * H. D. Kumaraswamy, Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, unveils the SWITCH IeV8, an electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) designed for mid-mile logistics, at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025 The SWITCH IeV8, a robust additio ...Read More >
Kanpur (UP), May 28 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects worth about Rs 20,900 crore here on Friday to boost the region's infrastructure and connectivity, an official statement issued here said. He will launch Chunniganj Metro Station to Kanpur Central Metro Station section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project worth more than Rs 2,120 crore. It will include 14 planned stations with five new underground stations integrating key city landmarks and commercial hubs into the metro network. Besides, he will also inaugurate road-w ...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 >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Pehalwan and his wife Kusumlata Ramesh joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday. The couple joined the party in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal, the party's national convenor. This development comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, which are expected to be held in early 2025. On Wednesday, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Congress. In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "Aam Aadmi Party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is n ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 8 (VOICE) BJP MP Ramvir Bidhuri on Wednesday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders for their sit-in protest outside the Flagstaff Road house that was used as his official residence by Arvind Kejriwal when he was the Chief Minister of Delhi, urging them to "have patience" as the so-called 'Sheesh Mahal' would soon be opened to the public. The remarks followed AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj's protest after being denied entry to the Flagstaff Road bungalow by the Delhi Police. The AAP leaders had arrived at Arvind Kejriwal's former official residence on Flagsta ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jan 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday slammed former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal over the quality of Yamuna water, saying no work had been done in Delhi over the past 10 years. He also accused Kejriwal of resorting to cheap politics to cover up his failures. "For the last decade, Kejriwal has forced the people of Delhi to drink contaminated water," Saini said. Chief Minister Saini, while presenting water samples from both Haryana and Delhi to the media at Yamuna Ghat in Wazirabad, emphasised the significant ...Read More >
The Delhi BJP also shared a rap song "Delhi ka millionaire" alleging corruption against the party's top leadership. In a recently-released video, the Delhi BJP has given a tour of the luxurious bungalow of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, where he lived while serving as the Chief Minister of the state. The party also shared a rap song "Delhi ka millionaire" alleging corruption against the party's top leadership. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, who shared the video on X, called the Civil Lines bu ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is likely to build a 7-km underground metro corridor connecting key landmarks such as the new Common Central Secretariat, India Gate, Bharat Mandapam and the North and South blocks to the Indraprastha metro station, sources said on Tuesday. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been asked to finalise the proposed alignment, they said, adding it will be an extension of the Inderlok-Indraprastha metro corridor that was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this year. According to the plan, the proposed line will pass through the Kartavya P ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI) Stakeholders from the electric vehicle (EV) sector will hold a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal here on January 3 on issues, including infrastructure related to charging and battery swapping, sources said. They said that officials from the Department of Heavy Industries are expected to attend the meeting. Also Read | SOF NSO Results 2024-25 Out at sofworld.org: National Science Olympiad Exam Result Released, Get Direct Link and Know Steps To Download. Representatives from Tata, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz India, Hero MotoCorp, and other companies h ...Read More >
Bengaluru: After facing roadblocks several times, Bengaluru's much-waited Namma Metro Yellow Line is all set to begin operations on January 6. Once operational, the metro line that connects RV Road to Bommasandra will be a crucial addition to the city's metro network as it links Electronics City, a hub for major companies like Infosys and Biocon. Confirming the updates, Lok Sabha MP from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya on Thursday said that the first train is ready and will be dispatched to Bengaluru in the first week of January. "We now have the first train ready to be dispatched to Bengaluru ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its manifesto for the next month Assembly election with 15 guarantees, including employment and the women's dignity scheme. While releasing the manifesto on Monday, AAP's national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Kejriwal's guarantees are solid," emphasising that free electricity for 24 hours, free water, free education, free pilgrimage for senior citizens, free bus travel for women, and free medical treatment in hospitals and Mohalla Clinics will continue in Delhi. He alleged, "BJP leaders and spokespersons ...Read More >
Mahindra's total sales volumes stood at 79,083 in November 2024 with the company's SUV lineup making up a major share of 46,222 units Mahindra has released its sales data for November 2024. Sales of the company's passenger vehicles have improved to 46,222 units which was a 15.16% YoY growth from 39,981 units sold in Nov 2023. This related to a 6,241 unit volume growth. MoM sales however fell by 15.20% when compared to 54,504 units sold in Oct 2024 relating to a decline by 8,282 units. The company has just released two Electric Origin SUVs called the BE6e and XEV9e. Both these models are buil ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 11 (PTI) Murugappa Group-run TCI Clean Mobility subsidiary TIVOLT Electric Vehicles on Wednesday said it has signed a pact with EV charging solutions provider Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) to build a charging ecosystem for its electric commercial vehicles. Under the collaboration, Tata Power Renewable Energy will bring its extensive experience in setting up and managing an expansive EV charging infrastructure at strategic locations across the country to TIVOLT dealerships, customer locations, and high-traffic public spaces, the company said in a statement. "This str ...Read More >
Delhi Elections 2025 Date and Time: Delhi elections 2025 is set to be held on February 5. The term of the 70-member Delhi assembly ends on February 23, and Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party is aiming for a third consecutive term. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is giving it a neck-to-neck competition to claim Delhi's throne after a long wait. This is to be reiterated that Delhi is not a state but a union territory and is officially known as the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Along with an elected Assembly, it also has a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Union Govern ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday directed officials to take measures to supply sand at lower prices to people and supply sand free of cost to beneficiaries of Indiramma houses. During a review meeting on the mines and minerals department at his residence on Monday, Revanth Reddy ordered officials to inspect sand reaches and take stringent action against those involved in sand smuggling. District collectors and superintendents of police are being entrusted with the responsibility. In Hyderabad, HYDRAA has been assigned the task to curb sand smuggling. Special officers will ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): With an eye on the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, Congress on Wednesday announced 'Jeevan Raksha Yojana', promising to provide Rs 25 lakh health cover per family. The announcement was made at a press conference by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here. Gehlot termed the scheme a "game changer" in Delhi "...We have given a lot of coverage to the health... 'Jeevan Raksha Yojana' of the Delhi government will be similar to 'Chiranjeevi Yojana' of the Rajasthan government...I am happy that I got the opportunity to launch this scheme here," the ...Read More >
Mumbai Rains: With local train delays and severe road congestion already troubling commuters, the situation has worsened as a section of the newly launched Mumbai Metro Line 3 has been temporarily suspended. Metro Line 3 will not be operational between Worli and Acharya Atre Chowk until further notice. The arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in Mumbai has brought with it chaos and disruption across the city. With local train delays and severe road congestion already troubling commuters, the situation has worsened as a section of the newly launched Mumbai Metro Line 3 has been temporarily suspend ...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 >
Indian sustainability startups are currently at the forefront in terms of handling critical environmental challenges. They are emerging with innovating solutions frequently for a greener future. Key Communications recently conducted a survey and it reports that the startups are in need of urgent support to make their journey less struggling. The survey reveals that more than 60% of sustainability startups in the country believe that they need stronger government backing with respect to growth and funding. Currently there are about 6,600 cleantech startups in India and such ventures are import ...Read More >