Page 36 - Delhi

Delhi saw 30% drop in incidents of cracker bursting this Diwali: Gopal Rai

There was 30 per cent less pollution on Diwali in Delhi as compared to last year and the city recorded its best air quality for the day after the festival in five years, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday. The air quality index (AQI) stood at 323 on Tuesday (the day after Diwali) as compared to 462 last year, he said. "People of Delhi were very thoughtful on Diwali this year and I want to thank them. Today, the pollution level is the lowest in five years," Rai told reporters on the sidelines of an event where he launched 150 mobile anti-smog guns. He said the anti-smog guns will be deployed at 40 spots across the capital where air pollution is high. The minister said that there has been a decline of 30 per cent in pollution level as compared to the previous year. "The AQI of 323 is still worrying and tells us that air pollution will increase in the coming days," he said. Rai further claimed the Punjab government controlled stubble burning in the state without support

Delhi L-G launches one-time property tax amnesty scheme 'SAMRIDDHI 2022-23'

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena Tuesday launched a one-time property tax amnesty scheme "SAMRIDDHI 2022-23", saying it will provide a major relief to lakhs of residential and commercial property owners in the city. SAMRIDDHI, an acronym for Strengthening and Augmentation of Municipal Revenue for Infrastructure Development in Delhi, will start on October 26 and end on March 31, 2023, with no further extensions. Under the scheme, residential property owners can pay just the principal property tax amount of the current and of the past five years. For commercial properties, owners can pay the principal amount case of the last six years and get a waiver on past pending dues, including penalty and interest, according to an official statement. The L-G said SAMRIDDHI 2022-23 is a people-friendly initiative of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi which will provide a big relief to the residents and encourage property owners to get rid of long-pending disputes and related ...

Delhi records over 900 dengue cases in October, tally rises to 1,876

More than 900 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital in October, taking the total infection tally of the vector-borne disease to 1,876 so far this year, according to a civic report issued on Tuesday. The city has also recorded 194 cases of malaria and 38 cases of chikungunya this year. The dengue infection tally had stood at 1,572 till October 12. Over 300 new cases were logged in the week that followed, taking the total number of cases of dengue reported this year in Delhi to 1,876 till October 19, according to the report released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Out of the total reported cases, 693 were reported in September. It is also the highest number of dengue cases logged during the January 1-October 19 period since 2017, when the corresponding figure was 3,272, the report stated. No death has been reported so far this year due to the disease while in 2021 the dengue had claimed 23 lives, the report said.

Delhi saw 30% drop in firecracker bursting on Diwali this year: Gopal Rai

Incidents of bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi dropped by 30 per cent this year as compared to last year and the city recorded its best air quality for the day after the festival in five years, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday. The air quality index (AQI) stood at 323 on Tuesday (the day after Diwali) as compared to 462 last year, he said. "People of Delhi were very thoughtful on Diwali this year and I want to thank them. Today, the pollution level is the lowest in five years," Rai told reporters on the sidelines of an event where he launched 150 mobile anti-smog guns. He said the anti-smog guns will be deployed at 40 spots across the capital where air pollution is high. The minister said incidents of bursting of firecrackers came down by 30 per cent on Diwali this year. "The AQI of 323 is still worrying and tells us that air pollution will increase in the coming days," he said. Rai further claimed the Punjab government controlled stubble burning in the st

Despite ban on firecrackers, 201 fire calls in Delhi reported on Diwali

Despite a complete ban on firecrackers in the national capital, the Fire Department received as many as 201 calls during Diwali, officials said on Tuesday."A total of 201 calls pertaining to fire incidents were received in Delhi, yesterday during Diwali," said Director, of Delhi Fire Services, Atul Garg.Ahead of the festival, the Fire chief had said that the department was prepared to fight fires through drones with which they could access high-rise buildings. Fire tenders were deployed near congested areas.Meanwhile, on Monday evening a fire broke out at an apartment in a residential society in Greater Noida West on Diwali evening, officials said.The fire broke out in the flat located in Vedantam Society in Gaur City 2 area, under Bisrakh police station limits, prompting relief operations at the site, according to police officials.Chief Fire Officer Arun Kumar Singh said that efforts are on to douse the fire completely."We got information at around 10.05 pm about a fire at a flat on .

Delhi records 53 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death; positivity rate at 3.26%

Delhi recorded 53 fresh Covid cases with an increased positivity rate of 3.26 per cent and one death due to the disease on Monday, according to data shared by the health department. With these new cases, the capital's infection tally climbed to 20,05,676 while the death toll stood at 26,508, the department said in its latest bulletin. The new cases were detected from 1,625 tests conducted on Sunday, it said. The Delhi government had on Thursday issued an order withdrawing the Rs 500 fine for not wearing masks in public places in the national capital. Experts, however, said people, especially those in the vulnerable category like pregnant women and the elderly, should continue to wear masks in crowded areas. Doctors at leading government and private hospitals in the city concurred that people should exercise "extra caution" because though cases in Delhi are on the lower side, a new variant of the coronavirus is being reported which is very transmissible. The city on Sunday reporte

Delhi's AQI turns 'very poor'; max temp settle at 31.2 degrees Celsius

Delhi's air quality turned 'very poor' on Monday with its maximum temperature settling at 31.2 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. The minimum temperature was recorded at 14.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. Humidity levels oscillated between 43 per cent and 90 per cent. Delhiites woke up to a pleasant Monday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 14.9 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was recorded at 82 per cent. The weather department had forecast mainly clear sky for the day with the maximum temperature likely to settle around 31 degrees Celsius. The air quality in Delhi on Diwali Monday turned "very poor" amid an increase in stubble burning, bursting of firecrackers and moderately unfavourable meteorological conditions which allowed accumulation of pollutants, according to Swiss organisation IQAir. Delhi on Diwali was the most polluted city in the world followed by Lah

Delhi not among 10 most polluted cities in Asia: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said among 10 most polluted cities in Asia, eight are from India and Delhi is not on the list. Citing a report, he said some years back, Delhi was considered to be one of the "most polluted cities in the world" but not anymore. The chief minister posted the media report on Twitter and wrote, "Among 10 most polluted cities in Asia, eight are from India and Delhi not in the list. Some years back, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world. Not any more!" He, however, said there is still a long way to go. "People of Delhi worked very hard. Today, we have improved a lot. While we have improved, its still a long way. We will continue working hard so that we find a place in the best cities of the world," Kejriwal said. "We are committed to making Delhi the best city in the world," he added.

Delhi's air quality remains in poor category, AQI recorded at 247

The national capital on Sunday recorded a minimum temperature of 14.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The air quality in the city continued to remain in the poor category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 247 at 8 am. 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 weather office has predicted mainly clear sky during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to settle at 31 degrees Celsius, the IMD said. The relative humidity was recorded at 77 per cent at 8.30 am.

Delhi: AAP accuses BJP of causing loss of Rs 6 cr to MCD over parking fees

There was a company who was given the tender from MCD to manage the parking lots across the city and to collect the parking fees from the people and to deposit that fees to MCD's exchequer, said AAP

Delhi traders urge buyers to return to markets for Diwali shopping

Attractive discount schemes, lucky draws, selfie points and food stalls, markets in the national capital are trying every trick in the book to bring back buyers this Diwali. Markets across the city have been decked up with bright lights, while traders are running campaigns on social media to urge people to visit instead of shopping online, a traders' organisation said. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) Chairman Brijesh Goyal and President Subhash Khandelwal urged consumers to visit markets with their families. "Bring back the radiance to the markets, light the lamp of enthusiasm in the city markets. Avoid online shopping. The fun of shopping is at the shop, not on the screen," Goyal said. Selfie points and food kiosks have been set up, discount schemes and lucky draw coupons introduced to attract customers to the markets, Goyal said. The CTI is also appealing to shoppers through Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, urging them to go to the markets instead of relying on e-commerce

Going to Delhi, wait and watch whether cabinet expansion or rejig: Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he will soon be travelling to New Delhi to meet BJP central leadership to discuss the cabinet exercise, but maintained suspense on whether it will be expansion or reshuffle of the Ministry. He said the BJP high command will finally decide on who has to be inducted into the cabinet. "I will soon be going to Delhi (to discuss cabinet expansion)," Bommai told reporters in response to a question. To a question whether opportunity will be given to seniors from the district, which has been subjected to "step motherly" treatment, he said, "it is not step motherly treatment, due to political situation, representation could not be given (to Chitradurga), will try to give representation." Asked whether leaders who had resigned from the Ministry following certain allegations (like K S Eshwarappa, Ramesh Jarkiholi) will be inducted into the Ministry as some of them have reportedly met party leaders, the Chief Minister said, "I can't ..

Delhi, Bengal consume most sweets in India; Rajasthan top consumer of papad

In 2021, the sweet market in India stood at Rs 58,900 crore

BJP holds meeting with JP Nadda, Amit Shah; discusses MCD election

BJP holds meeting with JP Nadda, Amit Shah; discusses MCD election

PKL 2022 Highlights: Patna get first win, beat table toppers Dabang Delhi

Catch all the action with scores and Live match updates from PKL 2022 matches between U Mumba and Haryana Steelers, then Puneri Paltan and Bengal Warriors and finally Dabang Delhi and Patna Pirates

Names in voters list revised till Jan 1 can vote in MCD polls: Delhi SEC

Delhi State Election Commission (SEC) said that the people whose names are mentioned in the electoral rolls revised till January 1 this year will be treated as voters in the forthcoming municipal elections. The SEC has issued a gazette notification in this regard on Wednesday. In the notification the Commission said the electoral rolls revised by the Chief Electoral Officers with the last date as January 1, 2022 shall be treated as the voter lists for MCD elections. Officials said that it means that only those people who became voters till January 1, 2022 will be able to cast their vote in the upcoming MCD elections. Till January 1, 2022 there were around 1.48 crore voters in Delhi. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday had issued final gazette notification for the redrawing of municipal wards in Delhi, paving the way for municipal elections. Municipal elections in the city are due since April this year. The BJP, which was ruling the three municipal corporations in Delhi for

Delhi Police intensifies patrolling in national capital ahead of Diwali

Ahead of Diwali, the Delhi Police has intensified patrolling, enhanced its presence and are carrying out anti-sabotage checks in heavy footfall areas of the capital, including markets and malls, officials said on Thursday. Flag marches and foot patrolling were conducted in the crowded market of Sarojini Nagar which usually witnesses heavy footfall during the festive season, they said. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda said, "In view of festive season, we have intensified our patrolling in market areas, extra police pickets have also been installed and personnel have been deployed. "From the anti-terror point of view, anti-sabotage checks are being done to ensure that no anti-social or anti-national elements carry out activities that can harm anybody's life," the officer said. "We have strong police presence during the festive season. For women's safety, we have also deployed women personnel on the ground," he said. All preventive measures are being

Delhi govt withdraws Rs 500 fine for not wearing masks in public places

The Delhi government on Thursday issued an order withdrawing the Rs 500 fine for not wearing masks in public places in the national capital. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had in a meeting last month decided to stop levying the penalty after September 30 amid a decline in COVID-19 cases in the national capital. However, no official notification had been issued.

'Spend money on sweets': SC refuses to lift ban on firecrackers in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down a plea by BJP leader Manoj Tiwari seeking an urgent hearing on a petition challenging the blanket ban on firecrackers in Delhi

St. Stephen's withdraws prospectus that mandated interview for admission

The St. Stephen's College in the national capital withdrew its prospectus that cited interview "compulsory" for students seeking admission