Page 9 - Air Pollution

Air pollution a big problem for country, urgent need to reduce it: Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said air pollution is a big problem for the country, and there is an urgent need to reduce it. The statement comes at a time when the air quality in Delhi has started to plummet to its worst level due to stubble burning in the neighbouring states of the national capital. "For ecology and environment also we need to resolve pollution as it is a big problem," the road transport and highways minister said while addressing the International Conclave on Clean Fuels-2022. Gadkari also expressed concerns about the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and stressed converting the stubble into bio-vitamin. The minister also said that in the country, there are several successful projects, and Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG are being made from rice straw. He also said there is an immediate need to decarbonise the transport sector and make it sustainable for the economy, ecology and environment. "We are promoting the use of clean and green biofuel such as ethanol,

Have intensified efforts to curb air pollution at construction sites: NCRTC

Amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation has intensified efforts to curb air pollution at its construction sites, including installation of sprinklers and anti-smoke guns. Between Delhi and Meerut, the NCRTC is establishing India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), which is a rail-based, high-speed, high-frequency regional commuter transit system. The NCRTC said it has been using pre-cast segments at construction sites and since Anand Vihar is one of the major transport hubs of Delhi, 10 casting yards have been established on the entire 82-km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor. Truck washing plants, sprinklers and anti-smoke guns have also been installed at the RRTS construction sites, it said. It said anti-smog guns are being used frequently to control the dust and pollution caused by construction work. "Twenty such sprinklers and six anti-smog guns have been installed at the Anand Vihar construction site at a certain

As air pollution rises, companies revert to hybrid work model in Delhi-NCR

As air quality worsens in the National Capital Region, companies scramble to minimise the exposure of their employees as far as possible

Delhi morning air quality remains 'very poor', NCR borders on 'severe'

A little less poor air quality in Delhi's satellite cities gave some respite to the people, but it is only a relative term from the previous day

Indoor air purifiers: CADR to filter types, things to check while buying

From novelty, the air purifiers have become a necessity in view of the rising menace of air pollution. Below are few things to check while buying the air purifier for indoor use

Stubble burning cases in Haryana not even 10% of Punjab's: CM Khattar

CM Manohar Lal Khattar has claimed that the cases of stubble burning in Haryana are not even 10% of that in Punjab

L&T fined Rs 5 lakh for violating ban on construction work: Gopal Rai

The Delhi government on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on construction agency Larsen & Toubro Ltd for violating the ban on construction and demolition work imposed in view of worsening air quality in the city, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday. Officials said the minister noticed construction work at the BJP headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg while he was returning after inspecting a construction site of the Unique Identification Authority of India. "The workers said the work concerned the BJP's national headquarters. We are yet to confirm it. It is a complete violation of CAQM's orders. We have imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the construction agency L&T," Rai told reporters. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)-- a statutory body formed in 2021 to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR -- had on Saturday directed authorities to impose a ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR, except in essential projects, and other curbs ...

BJP's ideology favours rising air pollution: Delhi minister Gopal Rai

The ideology of the BJP favours rising air pollution levels as the party voiced support to bursting of firecrackers but did not help the Punjab government provide a cash incentive to farmers for not burning crop residue, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai alleged on Tuesday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena would not have stopped the implementation of the "Red Light on Gaadi off" campaign to reduce vehicular emissions without instructions from the saffron party, Rai told reporters after inspecting a construction site here. "The mindset and the ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) favour an increase in the air pollution levels. Punjab would have seen a large-scale reduction in stubble burning had the Centre supported the state government's initiative to provide a cash incentive to farmers for not burning crop residue," he said. "We also saw that those in the BJP were busy supporting the bursting of firecrackers in Delhi (on Diwali). They too live in Delhi. All o

99% of air pollution related complaints on Green app resolved: Delhi EnvMin

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said the city government has resolved 90 percent of the air pollution-related complaints it received through the Green Delhi mobile application since October 1. The minister also said the ban on firecrackers in Delhi resulted in the cleanest Diwali in seven years. Rai said 68,500 challans were issued to vehicle owners not having a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate in August and September.More than 20 lakh PUC certificates were issued during this period. The owners are required to get their vehicles tested to ascertain if they meet emission standards for pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide. Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1993, vehicle owners not having a valid PUC can be fined up to Rs 10,000, or imprisoned for up to six months or both. "We have impounded around 6,500 old diesel and petrol vehicles that are not authorised to operate in Delhi," read a note he tweeted. Sin

Oct AQI review: With 7 days in 'very poor' category, 2022 worse than 2021

The air quality in the national capital was in the 'very poor' category for 7 days as against zero last year. The AQI was in the 'poor' category for 10 days as against seven in 2021

Delhi stops construction as pollution set to worsen from Tuesday: Minister

The air quality index (AQI) peaked at 415 in the Anand Vihar area of Delhi on Monday - more than eight times the "good" level, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

Delhi sets up 586 teams for inspection as GRAP Stage III kicks in

Latest stage imposed when air quality touched 'severe' levels with the overall AQI reaching 400 at 12:10 a.m. on Saturday

Delhi air quality worsens, nears 'severe' zone as stubble burning rises

A layer of pungent haze lingered over Delhi on Saturday morning as the city's air quality neared the "severe" zone amid adverse meteorological conditions -- low temperatures and calm winds -- and an increase in incidents of stubble burning in Punjab. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 396 at 10 am, worsening from 357 at 4 pm on Friday. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday (Diwali). Anand Vihar (AQI 454) was the most polluted place in the capital. Wazirpur (439), Narela (423), Ashok Vihar (428), Vivek Vihar (427) and Jahangirpuri (438) were among the monitoring stations that recorded "severe" air quality. The air quality in the neighbouring cities of Ghaziabad (381), Noida (392), Greater Noida (398), Gurugram (360) and Faridabad (391) also inched closer to the "severe" category. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 4

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From national and international political developments to rising air pollution and farm fires, catch all the latest news from across the globe here

Delhi's AQI remains 'very poor'; world's second most polluted city today

The AQI of Delhi was 329 at 8 AM, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast agency SAFAR

War of words between Delhi L-G, AAP govt intensifies over air pollution

A war of words between the Delhi LG's office and the AAP government over the "Red Light On, Gaadi Off" campaign continued for the second day on Friday, with the former accusing city Environment Minister Gopal Rai of "lying" about the date of its launch and Rai questioning the lieutenant governor's seriousness about the pollution issue. Setting the stage for a fresh confrontation with LG V K Saxena, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi had said on Thursday it is postponing the launch of the campaign as the LG's office is yet to approve it. Sources in the LG's office said on Friday that Rai did not speak the truth about the date of the campaign launch and claimed that the AAP did so to coerce Saxena into taking a decision. On the other hand, Rai accused Saxena of making excuses for not giving a timely approval for the campaign and questioned his seriousness about curbing pollution in the national capital. The month-long "Red Light On, Gaadi Off" campaign aims at encouraging

Delhi's air quality 'very poor' for fourth straight day; AQI over 400

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. The air quality index (AQI) in Anand Vihar (428) and Ashok Vihar (405) was recorded in the 'severe' category at 6:30 pm, the CPCB data showed. The AQI in Wazirpur, Bawana, Jahangirpuri and Mundka was in the 'very poor' category. The neighbouring cities of Ghaziabad (373), Noida (354), Greater Noida (368), Gurugram (362) and Faridabad (315) reported 'very poor' air quality. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The air quality in the national capital started deteriorating from October 24 with the AQI slipping to the 'very poor' category from 'poor'. Pollution levels crept up on the night of October 23 amid a drop in temperature and wind speed and due to people bursting firecrackers and a rise in t

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18 UP districts fail to meet expectations in curbing stubble burning

Despite warnings of strict action by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, nearly 18 districts in the state have failed in checking stubble burning

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From INC getting a non-Gandhi president after 24 years and Rishi Sunak's appointment as UK PM to coronavirus cases and air pollution, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here