Commuters drive through smog in Delhi NCR (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Centre and state/city governments of the national capital region (NCR) while hearing their submission on the air pollution crisis. Taking note of the Centre’s submissions, the Supreme Court directed Delhi and NCR states to comply with these decisions which were taken at Tuesday’s meeting to curb air pollution.
As a blame game erupted over the data on farm fires, the Chief Justice slammed the officials: “Debates on TV are causing more pollution than any other sources. Everyone has their own agenda there. We are trying to work out a solution here.” “What I’m observing is, as a judge, bureaucracy has developed sort of inertia. They don’t want to take a decision, they want only how to stop a vehicle etc this court has to do! Everything we have to do. This is an attitude developed by Executive,” the CJI said.
In its affidavit filed before the court, the central government said it is not in favour of work-from-home for its employee. In its affidavit filed before the apex court, the Centre said that it has instead advised its employees in Delhi to resort to carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles used by them for commuting. The Centre also said that the number of vehicles used by Central government is a minuscule fraction of the total vehicles in the national capital and stopping their plying would not make much impact towards improving the air quality of Delhi.
Meanwhile, amid the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Tuesday directed closing of all education institutions till further notice, a halt on all construction activities till November 21 as well as work from home for 50 per cent staff in government offices. Trucks, other than those carrying essential supplies, will not be allowed entry into Delhi till November 21 and this restriction may be extended depending on the conditions
The collegium’s recommendation comes nearly three years after it first considered Saurabh Kirpal’s candidature in 2018.
A scrap dealer was found dead with stab injuries at a railway underbridge in Delhi's Mangolpuri area on Wednesday, police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Parvinder Singh said the victim was taken from the railway underbridge at Mangolpuri by a passerby to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital where he was declared brought dead in the morning.
The deceased, who is said to be around 40, has been identified as Krishan Murari, a resident of Mangolpuri, police said, adding that he used to work as a scrap dealer. (PTI)
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, a drone was on Wednesday used by vector-control team of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation to spray larvicide to check the spread of dengue in the city, cases of which have seen a record spike here.
East Delhi Mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal claimed that the EDMC was the "first civic body" in the national capital to deploy a drone for control of vector-borne disease.
Larvicide was sprayed on the banks of river Yamuna using a drone, which can carry a container with a capacity of 10-12 litre, he said.
"We have hired an agency for it as a pilot project, and if the response is good, we will deploy more drones fir vector-control. One drone can cover about 3 km range," the mayor said.
The move essentially is to supplement the efforts of the municipal team, especially to reach to inaccessible areas, like a swampy land or middke of a lake, where staff cannot go to do spraying, officials said. (PTI)
East Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal on Wednesday said that he has suspended 17 members of the opposition AAP from the BJP-led EDMC House for 15 days for alleged misconduct during proceedings.
There was no immediate reaction from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
On September 27, Aggarwal had suspended 20 AAP members of the East Delhi civic body for 15 days for allegedly creating ruckus and indulging in misconduct during the proceedings of the House, a move that had drawn sharp reaction from the opposition party.
On Wednesday, Aggarwal said, "The opposition members wanted a discussion on dengue and the pollution situation. The ruling party members wanted to discuss the pollution issue first."
"I asked them to begin with the pollution issue and then move to the dengue matter. But they (AAP members) insisted that the dengue situation in national capital be discussed first and then created ruckus in the House," he claimed. (PTI)
Veteran Congress leader and former Delhi assembly speaker Yoganand Shastri joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Wednesday, and was made its city unit president.
Shastri came into the NCP fold in the presence of party chief Sharad Pawar.
"It was not that easy to work there (in the Congress). The biggest problem is that the party high command is promoting people who are not able to connect with the society. The example of Punjab is there and the situation in other states is also before everyone," Shastri said after joining the NCP.
He lauded Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying they were working hard but people around them were not honest and committed. (PTI)
Delhi BJP spokesperson Nighat Abbass on Wednesday slammed actor Kangana Ranaut over her series of controversial statements against Mahatma Gandhi, saying even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inspired by the Father of the Nation and such remarks "defame the country at the international level".
Ranaut on Tuesday claimed that Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh got no support from Mahatma Gandhi and went on to mock his mantra of Ahimsa by saying that offering another cheek gets you 'bheek' not freedom.
"I want to know what Kangana Ranaut wants to become by saying absurd things about him. By saying such absurd things she is regularly raising questions on the freedom struggle and is hurting the people of the country. I believe she is not just hurting people of the country but defaming India at international level," said Abbass in a video posted on Twitter. (PTI)
A 32-year-old gangster was arrested in connection with a 2019 case of the MCOC Act registered against him after a brief exchange of fire in outer Delhi on Wednesday, police said.
Accused Parveen Tyagi alias Gaurav Tyagi, a resident of Delhi's Holambi Kalan, was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his arrest, they said.
In cross firing, Tyagi also sustained injuries in his right leg and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, police said.
Tyagi is a sharp shooter and active member of the Tillu Tajpuria-Parvesh Khera gang. He is presently heading the Khera gang as all the other primary members of the gang are presently behind bars.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Rajiv Ranjan Singh said technical and manual sources were deployed to catch hold of the accused. Raids were earlier conducted at all suspected hideouts in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan but he managed to escape multiple times. (PTI)
Delhi government's Transport Department on Wednesday banned entry of trucks, barring those carrying essential items, with immediate effect in the national capital till November 21 or any further orders, Amid alarming levels of air pollution.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday issued directions to stop entry of trucks in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities, till November 21, subject to further review of extension of this date.
"In pursuance of this direction, it is hereby ordered that entry of trucks in Delhi shall be barred with immediate effect till 21/11/2021 or till further orders," said an order the Transport Department.
The ban will not apply to trucks carrying essential commodities like raw vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, eggs, ice that are to be used as food items, and tankers carrying petroleum products, stated the order. (PTI)
A bike-borne man allegedly snatched two mobiles from two people -- the separate incidents taking place in 10 minutes of each other -- at Connaught Place in the heart of the national capital.
Police said they arrested the accused, identified as the 21-year-old Arpan Christ, on Wednesday. He was previously involved in 20 criminal cases and declared a "Bad Character" by the Sunlight Colony police station, they added.
Both the snatching incidents took place on Tuesday and the accused was identified based on a CCTV footage and arrested later using technical surveillance, police said.
A CCTV footage of one of these incidents showed him snatching away the mobile phone of a 35-year-old woman while she was standing on the roadside in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place, they said.
In another incident, a few metres away from the first spot, he allegedly snatched the mobile phone from a man while he was using the device but no footage of the incident could be recovered, police said. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought response from the Centre on pleas by 2006 Mumbai train blast case convict challenging the rejection of his request under the Right to Information Act for information about the IPS officers involved in the investigation.
Justice Rekha Palli issued notice to the Central Public Information Officer of Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Personnel & Training on two petitions by Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddique who alleged corruption and violation of his human rights at the hands of the officials. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court has denied bail to a man, arrested for allegedly helping an undertrial gangster to escape from a hospital here, on the ground that the conspiracy of helping the prisoner escape from the lawful judicial custody is of huge magnitude which could have serious effects on public safety and graver consequences on the society.
The high court said that an operation of this complexity, that is, to aid an undertrial of notorious credentials to escape lawful custody, has wide ramifications that may shake the confidence of the public in the police administration as well as the criminal justice system.
Justice Subramonium Prasad said granting bail to the accused, at this juncture, has the potential to encourage "copycat criminal behaviour" and dismissed the plea of accused Bhupender Singh alias Bhuttan. (PTI)
Restaurateurs in Delhi have welcomed the new excise regime which came into effect on Wednesday, saying when implemented fully, it will help recover losses incurred by the sector due to the Covid-induced lockdowns.
With the new regime in place, the L-17 licensees, which include independent restaurants or gastro-bars, may serve any Indian or foreign liquor anywhere like the balcony, terrace, or lower area of the restaurant with the condition that the alcohol serving area be screened off from public view.
They can also play live music and have professional performances, bands, DJ, karaoke, singing and dancing at the premises. (PTI)
While hearing a plea relating to air pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that debates on TV news channels are creating more pollution as “everyone has their own agenda”.
“Debates on TV are creating more pollution than anybody. They don’t understand what is happening and what is the issue. Statements are taken out of context. Everyone has their own agenda. We can’t help and we can’t control. We are focussing on working out the solution,” a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said. Read more
The Delhi government will hire 1,000 private CNG buses to augment the public transport system as an emergency measure aimed at curbing vehicular pollution, said Environment Minister Gopal Rai.
Rai was speaking after a meeting with officials of different government departments Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) late on Tuesday to deal with rising air pollution levels. Read more
The Delhi High Court Wednesday said the courts are bound to follow the directions passed by its full court which permitted trial courts to hold hybrid or video conferencing hearings at the request of parties.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh issued notice and sought response of the Delhi government and high court on an application claiming that the district courts are not permitting hybrid hearings despite the directions of the full court.
“High court has already issued directions. They are bound to comply with it,” the bench said.
The high court was hearing two petitions by lawyers Anil Kumar Hajelay and Manashwy Jha seeking various prayers including conducting hybrid hearings in district courts on physical hearing days because of the COVID-19 threat. (PTI)
A police complaint has been lodged against standup comedian and actor Vir Das by a Delhi BJP member for allegedly using derogatory statements against women and India in a performance. Das recently uploaded a video titled ‘I come from two Indias’ on social media, which was part of his performance at John F Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Read more
While a layer of smog shrouded the Delhi skies, Dilli Haat in INA decked up with lights and canopies to celebrate the fifth edition of the Aadi Mahotsav that brings together over 1,000 artisans and artists from across India. The numerous stalls were adorned with products that represent tribal culture and craft hours before the inauguration of the festival on Tuesday by Sukhram Munda, grandson of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda.
Also present were Union minister for tribal affairs Arjun Munda, boxing star and MP MC Mary Kom and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) chairman Ramsinh Rathwa among others. “Aadi Mahotsav, organised by TRIFED and the ministry of tribal affairs not only provides an opportunity to expand tribal commerce but also ensures that tribal craft, cuisine and other traditions are maintained. We need to support these artisans and ensure a better future,” said Arjun Munda.
A day after actor Kangana Ranaut mocked Mahatma Gandhi in a series of Instagram posts, BJP Delhi spokesperson Nighat Abbass said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inspired by his teachings and such statements against him amount to defaming India at international level.
“Mahatama Gandhi has been given the Father of Nation status by the people of country. Whose ideals have kept the Bharatiyata alive in the country, Whose thinking has inspired our Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi also,” she said in a video which she also shared in her Twitter timeline.
Next hearing is on November 23
NV Ramana has not passed an order today. But has said that committee orders should be complied with.
A construction workers' body has moved the Supreme Court seeking ex-gratia relief schemes for daily workers who will suffer loss of income due to sudden complete ban on the sector's activities imposed by NCR states to curb pollution caused by dust.
Blanket ban on construction activities, without identifying and excluding the ones which do not contribute towards air pollution is "irrational, arbitrary and whimsical", said the petition filed by National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour.
It alleged that despite having a dedicated corpus of Rs 2,700 crore, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has failed to frame any ex-gratia relief scheme for the building workers for the periods when they have to give up their work due to "sudden absolute blanket bans". (PTI)
"What I’m observing is, as a judge, bureaucracy has developed sort of inertia. They don’t want to take a decision, they want only how to stop a vehicle etc this court has to do! Everything we have to do. This is an attitude developed by Executive," the CJI said.
"You all say the vehicle is the main cause, but gas guzzlers, hi-fi cars run on Delhi roads. Who'll encourage them to stop this? Delhi says no point in banning vehicles or having WFH if not implemented in neighboring states. We thought Commission will give us steps to stop this," the CJI said.
"I have a suggestion, meteorological scientists were also called in the meeting, they said wind flow will be there after 21 Nov. Now steps are taken. Various measures have been taken. Would you consider waiting till the 21st before passing any extreme measure," SG Mehta said.
"We’re not farmer bashing, they have a small interval before starting of next crop, how many removal machines have been implemented in that interval? They should be asked to tell that. Problem is a serious problem & Delhi has to look for a solution or we’ll have to close down everything! Instead of Summer vacation, we’ll have winter vacation," Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner said.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will chair a high-level meeting of departments concerned with regard to the latest directions issued by the Commission of Air Quality Management to contain air pollution, officials said on Wednesday. "The minister has called a high-level meeting at 12 noon to discuss the latest CAQM directions with senior officials of the environment department, public works department, municipal corporations, NDMC and education department," an official said.
"You can direct us to prepare a chart for all states to show compliance. you will see Delhi govt ticking 90 percent boxes..we have done complete work from home for Delhi govt officers. we were the only state. we have given all financial help. I am proud that 90 percent of boxes in the central govt affidavit have been ticked. we can increase metro and bus frequencies. please order work from home or ban in vehicles in periphery too since no point of such ban only in Delhi," Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government said.
On steps taken by the Delhi government to tackle pollution, their counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "Construction sites are being vigorously looked at. There are day and night patrols. Anti smog guns have been installed. Anti-dust campaign organised and DPCC organised 30 teams to do this. What else could we furnish in this short time? 90% of what the Centre has proposed has been done by Delhi govt and the suggestions are modelled on Delhi govt measures."
Discussing stubble burning and pollution, the CJI said: "We don't want to penalise farmers. We have requested states to persuade the farmers to not burn stubble. Why are you, again and again, raising this? You want to use some issue, make us observe and then make it controversial and then only blame game will remain. Debates on TV are creating more pollution than everyone else. Everybody has their own agenda. They don't understand anything."
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed its five member states — Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan — to “encourage’’ work from home for 50 per cent staff in all private establishments that fall in the NCR till November 21.
The CAQM issued these directions after advice from the India Meteorological Department, which has forecast that the air quality in Delhi-NCR is likely to remain poor, and even slip into severe category, over the next few days, improving after November 21.
Delhi’s air quality is likely to be in the ‘very poor’ category till Nov 19, the Air Quality Early Warning System forecast indicates. The air quality could improve from Nov 21 onwards with strong winds, the forecast read. The AQI on Wednesday morning was in the ‘very poor’ category.
Noida remains the most polluted city in the country, with an AQI of 397
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas has said that trucks, other than those carrying essential supplies, will not be allowed entry into Delhi till November 21 and this restriction may be extended depending on the conditions
The central government is not in favour of work-from-home for its employees, the Supreme Court was told on Wednesday, Bar & Bench reported. In its affidavit filed before the apex court, the Centre said that it has instead advised its employees in Delhi to resort to carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles used by them for commuting. The Centre also said that the number of vehicles used by Central government is a minuscule fraction of the total vehicles in the national capital and stopping their plying would not make much impact towards improving the air quality of Delhi.
Construction in Greater Noida has been banned for four days as a pollution control measure.
As per ACEO Deep Chandra, residential, commercial, builder projects, road resurfacing and any other form of construction will not be allowed. Those carrying out the activities have been asked to keep their construction material covered, officials said. Cement mixers and diesel generators will also be banned from use during this period, said officials.
Aiming to improve the quality of education, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has decided to sponsor training of its teachers who will get selected by reputed foreign universities, officials said on Tuesday. Municipal Commissioner Vikas Anand said that according to this scheme, the corporation will sponsor two teachers for training in a reputed foreign university in the first year. "This scheme is being run with the aim of improving the quality of education in schools of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation," he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the EDMC. "We are sending our teachers to foreign universities to study in different programmes related to teachers' training," he said.
Instead of making Delhi a world class city as he promised, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has turned it into a "smog city", the BJP claimed Tuesday, attacking the AAP government over air pollution in the national capital. "If Kejriwal is unable to perform, he should immediately resign," Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta told a joint press conference with Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Ramvir Bidhuri.
Gupta said that rising pollution level in Delhi is "the biggest failure" of the Kejriwal government. "Instead of making Delhi a world class city as he claimed, Kejriwal has made it a smog city." The people of Delhi feel quite "helpless" now as pollution level is alarming and many are falling ill but Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party are busy in political tourism, Gupta blamed.
After remaining closed for a month and a half, all private liquor shops in Delhi will reopen Wednesday. As per the new liquor policy, unlike old shops where customers had to stand out on roads and liquor was sold to them through a small window, the new shops will be walk-in.
With private shops reopening, the government has now completely exited the liquor sale business.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas Tuesday directed closing of all education institutions, including schools and colleges, till further notice, a halt on all construction activities till November 21 as well as work from home for 50 per cent staff in government offices till then, to curb the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.
Trucks, other than those carrying essential supplies, will not be allowed entry into Delhi till November 21 and this restriction may be extended depending on the conditions.
Delhi on Tuesday recorded 44 news cases of Covid-19 and zero death. The positivity rate in the city stands at 0.08 per cent.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday restrained authorities from interfering with the use of herbal-flavoured hookahs in restaurants and bars located in Delhi.
Justice Rekha Palli said that the court order will remain subject to the petitioners filing an undertaking before it that they will strictly follow Covid protocol. The court also said that in case of any unfortunate change in the pandemic situation, the government can move an appropriate application for modification of the order. Read the full report here.
An 11-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man from his village in Gurgaon. Police said the Class VI student told his family that the accused repeatedly waylaid him during his return from school and forced him to indulge in indecent acts.
According to the police, the boy’s mother filed a complaint on Monday night alleging that a few days ago, when her son was walking home after school, the accused intercepted him and took him to a park. Read the full report here.
Suresh Chandra who was appointed as the legal advisor to Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana has tendered his resignation on health grounds, an official said on Tuesday.
A senior police officer said the retired officer was only a temporary consultant and was under contract only for six months. He was almost at the end of his tenure and tendered his resignation on health grounds. His successor has not been appointed yet, the officer added. (PTI)
Commissioner of East Delhi Municipal Corporation Vikas Anand has suspended two Sanitary inspectors of Shahdara North Zone for negligence in their duty.
“Both Sanitary inspectors were suspended for not taking appropriate action to stop the open burning of garbage and for not maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in their wards,” said a senior EDMC official. Read more
Delhi Police on Monday told a court here that over five lakh Indians have been cheated to the tune of Rs 250 crore with the assistance of Chinese citizens, who are a part of a crime syndicate that had coaxed people to invest their money.
The details of the investigation were submitted to Additional Sessions Judges Dharmender Rana who dismissed the bail application of one accused, SK Robin, observing that his chats with Chinese nationals on Whatsapp and Telegram “clearly proves the roles played by him in the commission of the alleged offence.” Read more
Implementing work from home policy in Delhi-NCR and closing down industries are some of the steps suggested by the Delhi government in a meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management held on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday had announced various emergency measures, including the closure of schools for a week, a ban on construction activities and work from home for government employees, to deal with the pollution crisis faced by the city. Read more
Nearly two weeks after she was allegedly tied up and attacked with an acid-like substance in Outer Delhi’s Bawana, the 26-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries at a hospital on Monday. The police said the woman had sustained third-degree burns on her face, neck, chest and abdomen after she was attacked by her neighbour on November 3.
She had allegedly rejected the neighbour’s marriage proposal on several occasions. The accused identified as Montu (23) was arrested from Bihar’s Buxar district and was also shot in the leg when he tried to fire at police. He told the police he was “enraged” over the rejection and decided to harm the woman. Read more
The Delhi Police arrested two persons for allegedly robbing a man and his two friends outside Shakurpur metro station in Northwest Delhi.
Police said the accused, Vicky (22) and Akash (29), are history-sheeters and targeted the three by grabbing their necks and threatening them. Mobile phones, a purse and cash were stolen from the victims on Sunday night. Read more
Thirteen years after they joined the force, 12 Delhi Police constables posted in the police control room (PCR) unit as drivers have been dismissed from service for allegedly submitting fake driving licences and documents during the 2007 recruitment exam. The police said the crime came to light when they busted a recruitment scam in 2012.
In 2007, 81 candidates applied for the driver’s post in the PCR unit and those selected – including the 12 constables – received appointment letters. Read more
THE SUPREME Court on Monday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to “upgrade” its Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which eight persons including four farmers were killed on October 3. The court also said that it was in the process of finalising a former judge to monitor the SIT’s probe on a day-to-day basis.
“You have to upgrade the task force. The officers have to be of some higher grade,” Chief Justice of India N V Ramana told senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for the UP government. Read more
The Delhi Police have set up facade lighting at two police stations in New Delhi district to highlight the heritage buildings for the public. Constructed during the British era, the two stations will now be decked in orange, pink, red and blue colours.
Senior officers said this was done to make the buildings “visually appealing” and create awareness about their history. The two buildings, Parliament Street and Tughlak Road police stations, are currently preserved by the ASI. Read more
With air quality deteriorating and the Graded Response Action Plan suggesting that parking rates be increased, MCD officials say the matter is under consideration.
As per an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, vehicular emissions contribute the highest share to Delhi’s PM 2.5 levels in terms of local sources of pollution.
On hiking parking rates, a South MCD official said, “It has not been implemented yet and is under consideration. It was implemented in 2017 but the response was poor. We had also informed the erstwhile Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority back then the results had not been satisfactory.” Read more
As a debate rages on about how much farm fires in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh affect the air quality in the national capital, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), which comes under the Central Ministry of Earth Sciences, has been keeping track over the years.
According to them, the share of stubble burning in the PM 2.5 concentration in Delhi’s heavily polluted air touched a peak of 48% on November 7, when the air quality index value clocked in at a severe 428. The primary pollutant was PM 2.5. Read more
An order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Monday said the currently permitted and restricted activities in the national capital amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak will continue till the end of this month.
Under the phased reopening of the city with improved Covid situation, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had permitted most of the public activities, except for political, social, cultural, religious and other such gatherings.
No standing passengers are allowed in Metro trains and public transport buses in the city. Bars and restaurants are allowed to run with half seating capacity only.
The DDMA order stated that the "currently permitted and restricted activities will continue till intervening night (00.00 hours) of November 30 and December 1 or till any further order". (PTI)
Delhi government Monday told the Delhi High Court that till now, 200 liquor brands have been registered under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 and MRP has been fixed for 184 of them.
The AAP government told Justice Rekha Palli, who was hearing pleas by several retail liquor traders, that 192 brands have already paid the registration fee under the new policy.
Out of the remaining eight, three have withdrawn and the process was ongoing for five, senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, told the court.
The court directed that the Delhi government's status report in the matter be placed on record and listed the case for further hearing on November 16. (PTI)
Although the number of people visiting hospitals for air pollution-related ailment in Delhi-NCR has doubled from 22 per cent to 44 per cent within a week, the residents currently are split on enforcing three days of complete lockdown to reduce air pollution, a latest survey released on Monday said.
The survey, conducted by a digital community-based platform LocalCircles, found that the impact of air pollution on people has worsened in the second week with 86 per cent of families in Delhi-NCR now having someone experiencing one or more ailments due to toxic air.
About 56 per cent of families have one or more members were facing multiple conditions like sore throat, cough, congestion, and burning eyes due to polluted air, it said.
The survey received more than 25,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. (PTI)
EDMC municipal commissioner Vikas Anand on Monday suspended two sanitary inspectors for alleged negligence of duty, the civic body said.
Anand took the action after carrying out inspection of two wards as part of a drive to combat air pollution.
During the inspection, the municipal commissioner suspended two sanitary inspectors of Shahdara (North) Zone for "negligence of duty," the EDMC said in a statement. "Both sanitary inspectors were suspended for not taking appropriate action to stop open burning of garbage, and for not maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in their wards," it said.
Commissioner Anand said the corporation is making every effort to control increasing level of air pollution, and in such a situation the negligence of officials "will not be tolerated". (PTI)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday claimed that the expulsion of three municipal councillors from the Delhi BJP over corruption allegations was just a "drama" enacted by the party to "fool" the people of the city ahead of the civic polls early next year.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, AAP MLA Atishi said the BJP's "real face" was exposed when its MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramesh Bidhuri and Anil Jain participated in Chhath Puja celebrations organised recently by one of the expelled councillors Sanjay Thakur and heaped praises on him.
Nearly two months ago, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta had expelled Thakur along with two other councillors, Rajni Babloo Pandey and Pooja Madan, from the party for six years following complaints of corruption against them on September 19, saying more heads will roll if they are found involved in financial irregularities. (PTI)
The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana has recommended the elevation of senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal as the judge of the Delhi High Court.
The decision was taken in a meeting held on November 11, a statement by the collegium said. Read more
After more than two months, Gurgaon recorded a Covid-related death on Monday, taking the total count of deaths in the district to 924.
Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer (CMO), Gurgaon, said, “This is the first Covid related fatality since the first week of September. The person who died was aged 71. He was fully vaccinated and had comorbidity (a prior heart ailment).”
According to the bulletin issued by the district health department, of the total Covid deaths in Gurgaon, 608 of the deceased were people with comorbidities. Read more
Dengue cases in Delhi this season have crossed 5,000 – the highest since 2015 – according to a civic report released on Monday. A total of 2,559 fresh cases have been logged in the last one week.
As per the report, no new death has been reported and the toll stands at 9. Sources in the civic body said at least three suspected dengue deaths are pending before the audit committee, which will examine the exact cause of death and other details. Read more
Delhi's air quality deteriorated marginally on Monday and no improvement is predicted over the next three days, authorities said. The share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution stood at 10 per cent on Monday, the lowest since Diwali (November 4).On an average, farm fires have accounted for around 25 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi from November 1 to November 15.
According to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), people in the national capital breathe the worst air between November 1 and November 15 every year, as unhelpful meteorological conditions trap pollutants from local sources and stubble burning in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 353 at 4 pm. (PTI)