Page 3 - Delhi

Remain cautious, focus should be on clinical cases: Experts on Covid surge

As Delhi witnesses a sudden spurt in Covid cases, experts have stressed that there is no need to panic over the absolute numbers and the focus should be on protecting the vulnerable population, especially those who are immunocompromised or have comorbidities. They have also advised people to remain cautious by masking up and avoiding public gatherings. Delhi recorded 416 fresh Covid cases on Saturday, the highest in over seven months, with a positivity rate of 14.37 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. While the government did not issue a bulletin on Friday, the numbers on Thursday stood at 295 while the positivity rate was at 12.48 per cent. Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, an epidemiologist and public health specialist, told PTI, "There is a clear dissociation between infection and disease. It means that people are testing positive but they do not have symptoms. There is increased testing for flu so there is targeted testing and hence an increase in ...

IBA makes a case for biogas plants in PPP mode at landfill sites in Delhi

Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has urged the Delhi government to set up biogas plants under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model at landfill sites in the national capital to deal with the problem of mounting solid waste in an environment-friendly manner. In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the IBA said, "Biogas plants can be set up under the PPP model." The government can invite interested entrepreneurs to set up biogas plants at landfill sites, it suggested. Indore is the best example of how setting up biogas plants at landfill sites can reduce the environmental impacts of landfills and also help municipalities save costs, it added. The IBA opined that the biogas can help solve the landfill problem in Delhi by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and producing a clean and renewable source of energy. Further, it stated that it can help in making savings of Rs 750 crore by cost-effectively using the resources and through the generation of .

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to meet PM Modi on April 3 in Delhi

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 3

Delhi court lists Kanjhawala case for April 13, police files chargesheet

On the completion of investigation in the Kanjhawala case, in which a 20-year-old woman was killed after being dragged for several kilometers by a car

Mercury settles at low of 15.7 deg C in Delhi, light rain likely during day

The national capital on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 15.7 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The relative humidity was 83 per cent at 8:30 am. The IMD has predicted generally cloudy skies with light rain or drizzle during the day. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the 'satisfactory' (77) category at around 8 am, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. 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'.

Delhi logs 'good' to 'moderate' air quality in first quarter of 2023: CAQM

Delhi logged 'good' to 'moderate' air quality on 35 days in the first quarter of 2023, the maximum in the corresponding period in six years, barring 2020 when coronavirus led to a strict lockdown, according to data shared by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). There were 17 'good' to 'moderate' air quality days in the first quarter of 2017; 24 in 2018; 32 in 2019; 38 in 2020; 13 in 2021; 27 in 2022 and 35 in 2023, the data showed. The national capital on Friday recorded a 24-hour average air quality index of 73, which is the lowest since October 11 last when it was 66. An AQI (air quality index) reading 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'. According to the Delhi government data, PM2.5 and PM10 pollution in the national capital has reduced by more than 30 per cent in the last eight years. PM10 pollution in the city has reduced to 223 ppm (part

MCD to renovate 1,000 big parks in six months by installing green patching

The civic body plans to renovate a thousand big parks here in the next six months by installing green patching and refurbishing gym facilities wherever required, an official said on Friday. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) looks after 15,000 parks, including 1,000 big ones. A park is considered "big" if it is more than an acre in size. The renovation will include installing green patches and refurbishing the open gym and swings in the parks, the official said. The parks will be developed in a phased manner. "We are developing an action plan to refurbish the parks in the MCD area. We plan to develop the parks in phases. "We have 15,000 parks in total, of which around 1,000 are more than an acre in size. In the first phase, we will renovate such parks. Smaller parks will be renovated in the second phase," the official said. "Renovation of the big parks is the priority as their demands are more. The renovation will also include the development of gyms where there is a need a

Excise policy case: Delhi court dismisses Manish Sisodia's bail plea

A Delhi court on Friday dismissed a bail plea of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case lodged by the CBI. Special Judge M K Nagpal dismissed Sisodia's plea. On March 24, the Delhi court had reserved its order. The agency on February 26 had arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

Traffic police issues advisory after road caves in near Delhi's Hauz Rani

Avoid the stretch near Hauz Rani Red Light on Press Enclave Road

What is behind untimely rains in Delhi; what to expect in coming days?

Delhi rains: Due to the poor weather conditions, 22 flights were diverted from Delhi airport late Thursday night to different airports in Lucknow, Jaipur, Dehradun and Chandigarh

Delhi records 295 fresh Covid cases with positivity rate of 12.48%

Delhi recorded 295 fresh Covid cases on Thursday with a positivity rate of 12.48 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. On Wednesday, the city had logged 300 cases, the first time since August 31, and two deaths while the positivity rate had mounted to 13.89 per cent. Delhi had logged 214 cases with a positivity rate of 11.82 per cent on Tuesday, 115 cases with a positivity rate of 7.45 per cent on Monday, 153 cases with a positivity rate of 9.13 per cent on Sunday and 139 cases with a positivity rate of 4.98 per cent on Saturday. The Delhi government is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, adding that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting on the matter on Friday. Bharadwaj also assured people that there was no need to panic since the hospitalisation rate was low. The heath minister held a meeting on the coronavirus situation on Thursday. Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number o

Delhi govt to hold meeting on Thursday amid spurt in Covid-19 cases

The Delhi government will hold a meeting on Thursday to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a spurt in cases, officials said. The meeting has been called by Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj which will see the attendance of senior health department officials, medical directors of state-run hospitals and other stakeholders. The meet comes a day after Delhi's COVID-19 cases climbed to 300 for the first time since August 31 last year, while the positivity rate rose to 13.89 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. Two Covid-related deaths were also reported, it said. Delhi had reported 377 cases on August 31 last along with two fatalities, while the positivity rate was 2.58 per cent. The city has been witnessing an increase in the number of daily Covid cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country. The number of fresh cases had seen a decline over the last few months in Delhi. It had dropped to z

Fresh posters targeting PM Modi crop up in Delhi as AAP launches campaign

From today, the party will put up posters with the caption 'Modi Hatao Desh Bachao' across the country, AAP state convenor Gopal Rai had earlier announced at a party meeting

Delhi reports 300 coronavirus cases, positivity rate now nears 14%

Delhi on Wednesday reported 300 new Covid infections in the last 24 hours, against 214 cases reported on previous day, as per the government health bulletin

NGOs of Delhi, K'taka, received major chunks of foreign contributions: Govt

NGOs based in Delhi received the highest amount of foreign funds, followed by those based in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu out of the over Rs 55,600 crore contribution sent to India from abroad in the last three years, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said as per the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, every Non-governmental organisation which receives foreign contributions has to submit an annual return along with the income and expenditure statement, receipt and payment account and balance sheet for every financial year. Rai said during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, a total of Rs 55,645.08 crore was received by Indian NGOs as foreign contributions. Among these, Delhi has received Rs 14,062.77 crore in the said three financial years, Karnataka received Rs 7,241.32 crore, Maharashtra received Rs 5,606.01 crore and Tamil Nadu received Rs 6,804.07 crore, he said in response to a written question. All NGOs in the ...

IIT researchers create a cost-effective sensor for detecting fruit ripeness

A team of researchers from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur and Delhi has developed a cost-effective and highly sensitive tactile pressure sensor for detecting fruit ripeness

SC issues notice on Delhi govt plea against appointment of aldermen by L-G

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on a plea by Delhi government challenging the appointment of 'aldermen' by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) to the MCD

J P Nadda to chair meeting of BJP's OBC MP today in national capital

BJP National President J.P. Nadda will chair a meeting of all the OBC MPs of the party at party headquarters in the national capital on Wednesday

High ammonia levels in Yamuna to hit water supply in parts of Delhi

Water supply in parts of Delhi will be hit with high ammonia levels in the Yamuna leading to a 50 per cent decrease in production at Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants, the DJB said on Tuesday. The WTPs at Chandrawal and Wazirabad can treat up to 90 MGD and 135 MGD of water, respectively. The ammonia level at the Wazirabad pond is 5 parts per million at present. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the acceptable maximum limit of ammonia in drinking water is 0.5 ppm. At present, the Delhi Jal Board has the capacity to treat 0.9 ppm. "Due to high levels of pollutants (ammonia more than 5 ppm) being received in the Yamuna at Wazirabad pond, water production has been curtailed by 10 per cent to 50 per cent from WTPs of Wazirabad and Chandrawal. "Therefore, water supply will be available at low pressure from Tuesday evening till the situation improves," the DJB said in a statement. The areas which will be affected are: Civil lines, Hindu Rao Hospital and adjoinin

MCD special meeting for civic budget adjourned, to resume on Wednesday

A special meeting called at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi headquarters on Tuesday to discuss and deliberate on the civic budget was adjourned for the day soon after it convened. Mayor Shelly Oberoi said the session would resume at 2 pm on Wednesday. A few members had said that they did not get adequate time to go through the budget document and so time has been allowed till the session resumes on Wednesday, she said. Tuesday's session was scheduled to commence at 2 pm but began 15 minutes late. Proceedings had taken place for a brief period when the mayor adjourned the session. As required by the norms, the civic budget is to be cleared by March 31. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) passed the "schedule of taxes" in the civic budget for 2023-24 on February 15. But the remaining budget process was stalled as the civic body's standing committee is yet to be elected. The MCD had earlier said the "special budget meeting" for proposals for the Revised Estimates for 2022-20