Report tabled Tuesday points at glaring gaps in pollution monitoring & data collection by agencies, says govt doesn't even record critical pollutants like lead.
According to Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's AQI was 224 at 8 am Tuesday, ranging between 254 and 214 in different parts of the national capital.
Cleanest air recorded this year in Delhi was on 13 September, when AQI touched 52. Levels of ultrafine particulate matter or PM2.5 are increasing every year.
Till Saturday, a majority of Delhi’s pollution load was from stubble fires (25.10%), followed by vehicular emission (12.58%), & contamination from neighbouring states.
Graded Response Action Plan Stage III came into effect in NCR region today, imposing strict ban on various construction activities & on entry of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles.
In 2016, country's apex pollution watchdog told NGT that plant was ‘safe’. Four years on, its report said presence of metals in bottom ash & fly ash mostly 'below detection levels'.
According to the response, the CPCB received Rs. 422.56 crore as EPC funds between 2019 and 2024. Of this, Rs. 99.29 crore has been utilised for environmental protection activities.
Increasing population, urbanisation and concretisation cited as reasons for depletion in cities. Delhi, Jaipur & Hyderabad among cities severely affected by water contamination.
CAQM summoned Punjab officials Friday to 'remind them' of commitment to curb farm fires. The panel noted that slower wind speed also contributes to rising air pollution levels.
Citizens, civil society, and industry should be at the heart of any intervention designed to mitigate air pollution. Local governments must engage with citizens.
Compassion and cohabitation with animals are ingrained in the Indian value system. A humane solution must be found for the rising conflict between man and free-range animals.
New bill aims to fix key issues with IBC 2016, including delays & patchy implementation, and protect creditors, with window for genuine promoters to retain control of their companies.
Putin sees this as a victory. Europeans have decided to deal with Trump on his terms for the sake of the larger Western alliance. We look at the lessons for us in India.
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