Page 2 - Delhi Government

Govt keeping eye on Covid situation, prepared to face eventuality: Kejriwal

The Delhi government is keeping an eye on the spurt in COVID-19 cases in the national capital and is "prepared to face any eventuality", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. Only three deaths have been reported over the last four-five days. In all three patients, co-morbidities were "very severe" and it has been assessed that the fatality was due to co-morbidities and perhaps Covid was "incidental", but one can't say that, he said. Addressing reporters after chairing a review meeting on the Covid situation in Delhi, Kejriwal, however, said there was no need to worry as of now and that the city government was taking all required steps. "The Delhi government is keeping an eye on the COVID-19 situation and it is prepared to face any eventuality", he said. Delhi recorded 295 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday with a positivity rate of 12.48 per cent, according to data shared by the Health department. On Wednesday, the city had logged 300 cases, the first time since August 31,

Delhi govt watching Covid-19 situation, Kejriwal's review meeting on Friday

The Delhi government is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting on the matter on Friday, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said. Bharadwaj also assured people that there was no need to panic since the hospitalisation rate was low. He was speaking after holding a meeting on Thursday to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a spurt in cases. The meeting saw the attendance of senior health department officials, medical directors of state-run hospitals, epidemiologists and virologists. "We reviewed the situation. We have asked hospitals to advise coronavirus tests to those who are symptomatic. People visiting hospitals should wear masks," he said. The minister said the health department will brief Kejriwal on Friday on the situation following which he will issue directions to the government. "The chief minister will also be briefed about the Covid situation in other states and how they are tackling

Delhi govt launches drive to send overage vehicles for scrapping

The Delhi government on Wednesday kicked off a drive to send overage vehicles directly for scrapping. The move is aimed at encouraging vehicles owner in Delhi to come forward and scrap their overage vehicles, said Transport Department officials. "Under the new initiative, end of life vehicles will be impounded and directly sent to scrapping yard if they are found plying on city roads or parked in public places," said an official. On Wednesday, 10 teams of Enforcement Wing, Transport Department, impounded 50 vehicles which are more than 10 years old (diesel) and 15 years old (petrol) found plying or deemed to be plying (parked in public place) in Civil Lines area and handed over to RVSF (Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility), registered under RVSF Rules-2021, for scrapping, the official said. "NOC for diesel vehicles up to 10 years/ less than 15 years old petrol vehicles can be issued for any place in the country. NOC for diesel vehicles above 10 years and petrol vehicles above 15

CP, Dilli Haat most in-demand filming locations: Delhi govt official

Dilli Haat-INA, Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place are among the most sought-after locations for film and web series shoots in Delhi, which has witnessed over a dozen productions since the implementation of the city government's film policy last May, an official said on Tuesday. The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation acts as a facilitator for film productions in the capital. The Tourism department has received 52 applications for film and web series shoots since the Delhi Film Policy - 2022 was introduced last May, the official said. Under the policy, a single-window e-Film Clearance portal has been created to bring over 20 agencies that grant the various approvals related to film production. The government has facilitated 13 film and web series shoots since the policy's implementation. These include two Hollywood films, the official said. "Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Dilli Haat-INA and Pritampura are the most sought-after locations. Producers are also ...

Delhi govt orders audit of subsidy to discoms to check disparity: Atishi

Delhi power minister Atishi on Monday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered an audit of the subsidy being given to discoms to ascertain if there are any discrepancies. Addressing a press conference, Atishi said agencies empanelled with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India will conduct the audit and directions in this regard will be issued in two to three days. "A conspiracy is being hatched at a high level to stop free electricity being provided by the Kejriwal government. Files are not being shown to the chief minister and the power minister... It shows that something is amiss," Atishi claimed. "Government-appointed experts in discom boards were removed earlier and now questions are being raised if the LG is colluding with the discoms," she alleged. Immediate reaction from the LG office was not available. Atishi said the chief minister has ordered an audit of the subsidy being provided to the discoms to ascertain how this money was being used and if there were a

Amid rising Covid cases, Delhi govt hospitals conduct mock drills

Following the increase in Covid cases in the national capital, mock drills were conducted in the Delhi hospitals on Sunday to review preparedness

Withdrawing new liquor policy set to hit Delhi revenues by 45% in FY23

State govt could still raise revenue surplus for the year after reverting to old way of conducting liquor trade

By 2025, Delhi govt aims to meet 25% of annual demand through solar power

The Delhi government's solar policy, which will be notified next month, aims to meet 25 per cent of the city's annual electricity demand through the clean energy by 2025, Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot announced on Wednesday. While presenting his maiden budget as finance minister, Gahlot in the assembly announced an allocation of Rs 3,348 crore for the power sector, up from Rs 3,340 crore last year, and highlighted that electricity rates have not been increased in the last eight years. "The Delhi government has treated providing minimum electricity to every household in Delhi like a fundamental right and in the year 2022-23, out of Delhi's 58.5 lakh domestic consumers, about 84 per cent had availed the Delhi government's electricity subsidy scheme," he said in the assembly. Gahlot said the government's Solar Policy will be notified by next month and it will establish Delhi as a leading example for the country in the field of solar energy. "The Delhi Solar Policy 2022 aims to

Delhi Budget: Local bodies' allocation doubled, Rs 850 cr for landfills

With the AAP coming to power in the MCD, the Kejriwal government has nearly doubled the fund allocation for local bodies in the Delhi Budget 2023-24 while setting a target to flatten the city's three garbage mountains by 2024. Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot announced that local bodies will be given Rs 8,241 crore in the financial year 2023-24, up from Rs 4,374 crore allocated during 2022-23. He also said a loan of Rs 850 crore was earmarked for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for the removal of mountains of garbage. This is the first budget of the AAP government after the party took over the MCD last year as it registered its maiden victory in the civic body elections. "The three garbage mountains of Delhi have been a dark spot on Delhi's image for several decades now. Though the task of clearing these garbage mountains falls in the domain of the MCD, for the sake of the people of Delhi, we will work hand in hand with the MCD and provide them whatev

Delhi govt's budget for FY23-24 has something for everyone: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the 2023-24 Budget has something for everyone and asserted that it will give a major push to infrastructure with Rs 21,000 crore being allocated for various projects. He told a press conference that his government has been providing free education, water, power and healthcare services to citizens, but has never incurred losses, and assured that all the free schemes of the Delhi government will continue. In 2014-15, the Budget outlay was Rs 30,940 crore, which has now gone up to Rs 78,800 crore, he said after the tabling of the financial document in the assembly. "This is because Delhi has an honest government. Finally, the Budget was presented today. The Delhi government's Budget for the financial year 2023-24 has something for everyone. We have so far invested heavily in education, health and electricity sectors and this will continue. This budget focuses on a clean, beautiful and modern Delhi," Kejriwal said. "We have achieve

Delhi Budget 2023: AAP govt allocates Rs 16,575 crore for education

The Delhi government will provide new tablets to all teachers, principals, vice-principals besides setting up new computers in 350 schools in the national capital in 2023-24. The Delhi Budget presented by Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday allocated Rs 16,575 crore for the education department for the year 2023-24. In the 2022-23 Delhi Budget, the education sector had received the highest allocation of Rs 16,278 crore. Providing 20 new computers to each of the 350 schools under the Delhi Government and teaching of French, German, Japanese and Spanish in Schools of Specialised Excellence are the highlights of the Delhi's budget for education sector. The minister said more branches of the Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Education will come up in 2023. In 2021, there were 20 schools of specialised education, which will be increased to 37 in 2023. Gahlot also announced that schools and industries will collaborate to develop professional skills for children at Schools of Appl

120 petitions challenging Waqf Act pending before courts, Delhi HC told

The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed by the Centre that nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act are pending before various courts in the country. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while hearing a PIL by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay assailing certain provisions of the same law, asked the central government counsel to seek instructions on taking steps for the consolidation of all the cases. Counsel for central government prays for time to take appropriate steps and seek instructions for consolidation of all such cases, said the bench also comprising Justice Sachin Datta. Centre, in an application filed in the present petition, sought an extension of three months for filing the reply and said apart from the instant case, nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act 1995, are pending before various courts. It submitted that it was essential to ensure that a clear and consistent view is

Delhi Budget: Focus on infra; Rs 8,241 cr assistance to local bodies

Presenting the budget for the national capital, Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot said that it focuses on enhancing the city's infrastructure, sanitation and transportation facilities

Govt plans to remove all 3 landfill sites in Delhi in next 2 years: Gahlot

Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday announced that the government planned to remove all three landfill sites in the national capital in the next two years. Presenting the budget 2023-24, he said a loan of Rs 850 crore has been earmarked for the AAP-run Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for the removal of mountains of garbage. The three mountains of garbage are a black spot in Delhi's image. Though it is MCD's duty to tackle the garbage mountain for the people of Delhi, the Kejriwal government will work in tandem with MCD to tackle the issue. We will provide all possible support to ensure the end of these mountains," Gahlot said. The minister informed that the government plans to remove the Okhla landfill by December 2023, the Bhalswa landfill by March 2024 and Ghazipur landfill by December 2024. "Delhi government targets the removal of all three mountains of garbage in Delhi in just two years. Okhla landfill to be removed by December 2023, Bhalswa landfill by Marc

Kailash Gahlot presents Rs 78,800-cr Budget for 2023-24 in Delhi Assembly

Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday presented a Rs 78,800 crore budget in the Delhi Assembly for the financial year 2023-24. The Delhi government's budget size for 2022-23 was Rs 75,800 crore and Rs 69,000 crore in the previous year. This was the first time that Gahlot presented the budget after getting charge of the finance department following the resignation of deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. "I would have been happier if it this budget was presented by Manish Sisodia who is like my elder brother. The budget is an expression of expectations and aspirations of the people," Gahlot said in his budget speech. The minister said the budget is dedicated to a clean, beautiful and modern Delhi. This is the ninth consecutive budget of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. "Every possible help will be given to the MCD to remove the three mountains of garbage in Delhi. We will connect all colon

Work done by Sisodia will be carried forward at double speed: CM Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that Delhiites are "missing" Manish Sisodia on the day of budget presentation, and asserted that the work started by the former minister will be carried on at double the speed. This time, the budget will be presented by Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot, who was given charge of the finance department after resignation of deputy chief minister Sisodia. Sisodia, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case, had been presenting the AAP government''s budget ever since the party came to power in Delhi. "Today Delhi's budget will be presented. Delhiites are missing Manish ji very much today. But the work started by him will not stop. The work done by him will be carried forward with double the speed," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. The Union Home Ministry approved the Delhi Budget on Tuesday following a clarification from the AAP government, paving the way for its presentation in the Assembly.

Delhi govt issues directions to ensure unhindered admission in EWS category

The action plan was discussed during a high-level meeting where Education Minister Atishi instructed the officials that the EWS admissions for this session be done in a smooth manner

After LG's concerns, Centre asks Kejriwal govt to resubmit Delhi budget

The Home Ministry sources dismissed the allegations, adding that the MHA has instead sought clarification from the Delhi govt as its budget allocation was focussed on advertisement rather than infra

Please don't stall Delhi's budget, Arvind Kejriwal writes to PM Modi

The presentation of the Delhi government's Budget, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was put on hold with the state government and the Centre trading charges over allocations under various heads

Budget file received at 9:25 pm, approval sent back at 10:05 pm: LG House

An official at the L-G House said that Saxena had approved the Annual Financial Statement 2023-2024 with certain observations and the file was sent back to the Chief Minister on March 9