Page 9 - Delhi-ncr

Milk bank, AI-driven civic monitoring among proposals in MCD's next budget

The MCD's budget for next fiscal will see the establishment of its first Lactation Management Unit, or Milk Bank, and use of Artificial Intelligence for monitoring of civic amenities. The civic body has in its budget estimates for 2024-25 provisioned funds for construction of around 20 school buildings in different zones of the city. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Saturday presented a budget estimate of Rs 16,683.02 crore for the year 2024-25 with estimated income to be Rs 15,686.99 crore. The civic body saw a spike of Rs 400 crore in the revenue, as it earned Rs 2,417 crore in the financial year 2022-23 -- the highest revenue in the history of the Corporation through property tax, according to the MCD. The MCD's first milk bank will be set up in Swami Dayanand Hospital, it said. The corporation has proposed a pilot project for Preet Vihar, East Patel Nagar, and Kotla Mubarakpur wards for the extension of civic services through artificial intelligence. It proposed to const

Gender parity in Delhi's higher education declined in in 2020-21: Data

The gender parity index in higher education in the national capital declined to 1.04 in 2020-21 from 1.16 in 2018-19, according to data published by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Gender parity index (GPI) is defined as the ratio of number of females to males enrolled in a given stage of education. The index ideally should be between 0.97 and 1.03, as per the report 'Women and Men in Delhi 2023'. However, the number of female students per 100 male students in important educational programmes in Delhi has shown a rise. Comparing the data recorded across various higher education courses in 2012-13 and 2020-21, it was observed that the GPI increased from 0.84 to 0.9 in PhD, 0.73 to 1.02 in postgraduate, 1.03 to 1.11 in undergraduate, 0.51 to 0.73 in PG Diploma and 0.53 to 0.84 in Diploma programme in regular mode of education. Of the total students in Delhi, around 90.1 per cent opted for general course as compared to technical or professional courses which include 92 p

MCD targets to get 1.5 million properties geo-tagged in next two months

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Thursday said the AAP-led MCD has set the ball rolling for creating a "proper database" of property tax records using cutting-edge technology and it aims to get 15 lakh properties geo-tagged in the next two months. At a press conference held at the Civic Centre here, Oberoi said those who get their properties geo-tagged will get a "rebate". She said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has already begun the process to geo-tag properties in the city. "In the last seven days, 20,000 properties have been geo-tagged, and the target is to have 15 lakh properties tagged in the next two months. The priority is to include four lakh non-residential properties," she said. Oberoi said the MCD aims to achieve this geo-tagging target by January 30 with the help of a mobile application. "The geo-tagging will generate a unique address, unique code, and the portal will have a proper database of records related to property tax and such tax payers," she told ...

Thailand-based MQDC plans to develop luxury housing projects in Delhi-NCR

Thailand-based realty firm MQDC, which is present in co-working space in India, plans to develop luxury housing projects in Delhi-NCR and is in talks with local builders for joint development. MQDC India, Indian arm of Thailand-based Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC), has one operational co-working facility in South Delhi. It is launching second co-working facility 'Whizdom Club India, at Golf Course Road, Gurugram, on Friday. "We plan to develop luxury housing projects in Delhi and Gurugram. We are in talks with local developers. We are evaluating few sites," MQDC India Country Director Chulamas Jitpatima (Amy) told reporters here. She hoped that the company would be able to announce its partnership early next year with local developer. Amy expects to launch its first residential project by 2025. MQDC is also inviting Indian investors to buy flats in its various properties at Bangkok. It is showcasing its properties to HNIs (High Networth Individuals) here this ...

Delhi to implement of Grap-I,Grap-II restrictions strictly: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said all the departments concerned have been directed to ensure strict implementation of restrictions under GRAP Stage-I and Stage-II following a weather department prediction that pollution levels in the national capital might fluctuate. Addressing a press conference, Rai said, "Keeping the improved pollution levels in mind, GRAP-III restrictions have been removed. However, the weather department has predicted that the pollution level could fluctuate if the wind speed slows. To avoid such a situation, all the departments concerned have been directed to ensure strict implementation of GRAP-I and GRAP-II restrictions." "The ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles have been removed and restrictions on construction and demolition lifted," Rai added. "Instructions have been given to sprinkle water on the identified roads everyday and use mechanical sweeping machines continuously. Water is being sprayed with 215 mobile anti-smog gu

Delhi RERA withdraws order banning listing new property after meeting L-G

The Delhi Real Estate Regulatory Authority withdrew its September order directing sub registrars not to register properties in violation of building bylaws, hours after its top brass met Lt Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday, officials said. Earlier in the day, Saxena met the chairman and members of Delhi RERA along with the chief secretary and divisional commissioner at Raj Niwas over the issue. "The LG impressed upon and requested the RERA to revisit its order in view of the hardship it is causing to common people in Delhi," said a Raj Niwas official. A fresh order issued by Delhi RERA secretary stated, Considering the various facts on record, the Authority has decided to withdraw its order dated 11.09.2023 with immediate effect." During the meeting with RERA chairman and members, the LG brought to their notice the "acute problems and harassment" being faced by the residents of Delhi in a wide ranging discussion regarding the "repercussion of its order", the Raj Niwas official said.

Stage III restrictions revoked in Delhi-NCR after air quality improves

The Centre on Tuesday ordered the revocation of restrictions under Stage-III of GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect, following improvement in air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, met on Tuesday in view of the significant improvement in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR. The air quality forecasts by the India Meteorological Department/Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology do not indicate the average air quality of Delhi to move to severe' category in the coming days for which forecast is available, the CAQM said. The Centre's pollution control panel had invoked the Stage III restrictions on November 2, directing a halt on non-essential construction work, stone crushing and mining in Delhi-NCR. Under this stage, restrictions were also imposed on the operation of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in

'Make in UP' push: Special enclaves for women entrepreneurs on the cards

The Yogi government has announced an array of financial incentives, including a stamp duty waiver for women entrepreneurs

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Delhi air quality expected to improve in next two days, says Gopal Rai

The air pollution in the National Capital declined to 'very poor' category from severe, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recording at 393

Coal-based power plants aggravating air pollution in Delhi-NCR: Report

Non-compliance of thermal power plants in Delhi-NCR with emission standards is contributing significantly to air pollution in the region, according to a new analysis. The study by environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) focuses on particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions from the 11 thermal power plants (TPPs) in Delhi-NCR and is based on their environmental status reports sourced from the website of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a technical arm of the Union Ministry of Power, from April 2022 to August 2023. According to studies, the TPPs account for around eight percent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi-NCR. "Delhi-NCR cannot achieve the clean air benchmark and safeguard public health if continuous sources of pollution, such as thermal power plants, continue to emit pollutants at high levels. These plants have struggled to meet the standards, primarily due to continually shifting compliance deadlines, says Anumita ...

Delhi air pollution: Gopal Rai to hold review meeting with DPCC today

The air quality in the national capital continued to hover in the 'very poor' category on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at over 350 in several areas

AQI expected to improve in next 2-3 days: Delhi Environment Minister Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said the city's air quality, as per experts, is expected to improve in the next two to three days and hence the state government has decided to continue with GRAP III regulations. The minister said the Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to improve from the "very poor" category in the coming days but the ban on certain vehicles will continue under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III regulations. "Under GRAP III, BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles are still banned," Gopal Rai told PTI. "Scientists are saying that the air quality will improve in the coming 2-3 days. As per the present conditions, it was decided that GRAP III regulations will continue in Delhi for now," he said. The minister further informed that the restrictions under GRAP IV have been modified and now include a ban on BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles with All India Permit, which were allowed to enter Delhi earlier. If Delhi air quality deteriorates in fu

85% of Delhi-NCR residents reluctant to retrofit DG sets with CNG: Survey

Around 85 per cent of Delhi-NCR residents who have a personal or society generator running on diesel are unwilling to retrofit it with CNG, according to a survey carried out by a digital community-based platform. The survey by LocalCircles said that despite the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which banned the use of diesel generator sets from October 1 to December 31, 2023, as part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat air pollution in the region, there is significant resistance among residents. The survey received more than 22,000 responses from Delhi National Capital Region residents located in the cities of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. To ease concerns over power disruptions in essential sectors in the NCR, the CAQM in September granted a three-month reprieve for the use of DG sets in nine critical categories of emergency services till December 31. The survey sought to know "How are you/your society complying with

Buses from other states may face curbs if Grap Stage IV invoked in Delhi

The Delhi government has notified that the entry of buses, barring CNG, BSVI diesel and electric ones will be regulated in the capital, if restrictions under the final stage of the Centre's air pollution control plan are invoked. Stage IV is the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). "Entry of all buses, including All India Tourist buses/ Contract Carriage buses/ State Transport Buses or holding any other kind of permit into Delhi from other states except CNG / Electric or BSVI diesel buses will be restricted as and when GRAP IV invokes. "The above mentioned restrictions shall stand automatically applicable, as and when GRAP - IV is invoked from the date of issuance of this order in Delhi Gazette, and if the GRAP IV is revoked the said restrictions stand terminated automatically, no separate order will be issued," an official gazette notification said. Last month, the Delhi government directed that all buses entering the national capital from Haryana will have to be

Oberoi Realty enters Delhi-NCR; buys 15-acre land in Gurugram for Rs 597 cr

Oberoi Realty has bought nearly 15-acre land in Gurugram for Rs 597 crore to develop luxury housing project, marking its foray into the Delhi-NCR property market. The Mumbai-based company has "executed an agreement for sale with Ireo Residences Company Pvt Ltd and others for acquiring land admeasuring approximately 14.816 acre equivalent to 59,956.20 square meters at Sector 58, Gurugram, Haryana." In a regulatory filing on late Friday, Oberoi Realty said the consideration for the transaction is in the form of event/ time linked monetary consideration of up to Rs 597 crore, and up to a certain area in the project for the existing homeowners and others. The company has taken possession of this land and it will get an estimated area of 2.6 million square feet for development. "This transaction marks the company's foray into the NCR region," Oberoi Realty said. The company intends to primarily develop a luxury residential group housing project on this land parcel. Oberoi Realty has .

Delhi HC orders high powered committee on pvt schools' staff salary issue

The Delhi High Court has directed the city government to constitute a high powered committee to supervise implementation of recommendations and guidelines of the sixth and seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC) dealing with salaries and arrears to staff of private unaided schools and recognised private unaided minority schools here. Terming education as an invincible weapon for empowering the next generation, the high court said the regulating authority has to exercise certain control to ensure that uniform quality of education was provided to every student of the country. The high court said the committee shall be constituted at Central and Zonal level and also directed the Directorate of Education (DoE) to issue a notification within two weeks for the purpose of convening zonal committee, wherein, various stakeholders including teaching and non-teaching staff of several schools, who are aggrieved by the nonimplementation of the Pay Commission, shall file their claim before the ...

DMRC ramps up surprise checks in Delhi Metro to curb 'objectionable acts'

With a string of controversial videos made in Delhi Metro trains and premises going viral in the last several months, DMRC chief Vikas Kumar has appealed to people to refrain from engaging in "objectionable" activities and said steps were being taken to curb such incidents. In a interview with PTI, Kumar also said squads do "surprise checks" from time to time and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is "trying its best" to check these activities. Seeking fame, some metro riders in the past have often resorted to gyrating on some popular numbers inside train coaches or at platforms, while someone else filmed it. In other cases, videos have emerged on social media platforms such as Instagram where young couples have been filmed getting intimate in a train. On one occasion, a video of a young woman in a skimpy dress had gone viral on X, triggering an online debate on public decency and freedom of an individual. Kumar, the managing director of the DMRC, said security personnel canno

Ensure ban of private polluting buses in Delhi: AAP govt to authorities

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai directed the transport department on Friday to conduct a special drive to prevent the entry of private polluting buses into the capital. The minister reviewed the implementation of air pollution control measures at the Sarai Kale Interstate Bus Terminal and found buses from other states flouting the ban imposed on BS IV diesel vehicles under the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan. "We have found that private buses from other states have been violating the ban and have directed the transport department to run a special drive to check the entry of such vehicles into Delhi," he told reporters. Citing experts' views, Rai said that a slight improvement in meteorological conditions might lead to marginal relief but urged agencies to remain alert. Strict restrictions, including a ban on construction work and the entry of polluting trucks into the capital, under the final stage (Stage IV) of the Centre's air pollution control plan, known as the Graded

Delhi pollution: Special Task Force monitoring GRAP execution, says govt

Minister Gopal Rai shared that so far, teams have carried out on-site inspections of 3895 construction sites under GRAP in view of the worsening air quality in Delhi.