‘Majority of city's STPs lack effective disinfection'
New Delhi: Central Pollution Control Board has submitted a report to
National Green Tribunal
, stating that
Delhi Jal Board
needs to expedite the installation of disinfection facilities and ensure the proper operation of such systems in the sewage treatment plants.
The report, dated May 8, asserted that 20 out of the 37 functional STPs had disinfection systems, but not all of them met the standards. CPCB filed the report on NGT's direction after the tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a TOI report, 'Why 75% of Delhi's STPs aren't ready to tackle Yamuna stink', published on Feb 19, 2024, and raised substantial issues regarding compliance with environmental norms.
CPCB, based on reports from DJB, last year informed NGT that out of the 38 monitored STPs, only two at Coronation Pillar New and Kondli-Phase I complied with the standards of fecal coliform counts.
The latest report stated that currently, 37 STPs were functional as the operations of three STPs—Okhla Phase II, III and IV—were stopped, and one STP at Okhla and another at Sonia Vihar were under the stabilisation phase.
"Twenty STPs have installed disinfection facilities. Of these, 10 STPs have chlorination-based disinfection and 10 use ultraviolet radiation-based disinfection. The installation of disinfection using UV technology is in progress in five STPs, with expected completion in three STPs.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Gạch lát sàn cao su không cần keo – xu hướng mới nhất tại Việt Nam!
Gạch | Quảng cáo tìm kiếm
Tìm Ngay
Undo
The installation is under consideration for another eight, with expected completion by June 2026," stated CPCB.
The report, however, pointed out that a compliance status related to fecal coliform based on a DPCC report for Nov 2024 stated that three STPs at Coronation Pillar New, Pappankalan Phase II and Kapashera were not meeting the prescribed standards. Out of the 17 STPs with no disinfection facilities, 14 were not meeting the standards prescribed by NGT on April 30, 2019, DPCC stated.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
14-year-old Andhra-origin tech whiz creates AI app that detects signs of heart failure in 7 seconds, following low-cost prosthetic arm success
A 14-year-old prodigy of Andhra origin, Siddharth Nandyala , has developed an extraordinary AI-powered app capable of detecting early signs of heart failure and other heart abnormalities within seven seconds. His breakthrough invention, Circadian AI , uses a smartphone's microphone to record heart sounds, analyze them with cloud-based machine learning, and provide rapid pre-screening for potentially life-threatening conditions. Cutting-Edge Technology Meets Youthful Vision Hailing from Frisco, Texas, Siddharth combined his passion for healthcare and artificial intelligence to create an app that records heart sounds while filtering out background noise. By simply placing a smartphone near the chest, Circadian AI can identify arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease markers, and valve abnormalities. Achieving over 96% accuracy in clinical trials involving nearly 19,000 patients across the US and India, this innovation promises to transform early diagnosis. Siddharth explained to Smithsonian magazine that his drive came from wanting to make a meaningful impact. 'Even one life detected is one life saved,' he said. Despite the app's sophistication, he emphasized that it is a screening tool designed for clinical use by trained professionals and not a replacement for traditional diagnostics like EKGs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The price of dental implants may surprise you Dental Implants | Search Ads Search Now Recognition and Support from Andhra Pradesh Leaders Earlier this year, Siddharth's groundbreaking work caught the attention of Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. Following successful testing of Circadian AI at Guntur Government General Hospital, Siddharth was invited to meet the Chief Minister, who praised his innovation and pledged full government support for further AI research. Naidu highlighted the significance of a young Telugu talent making waves globally in healthcare technology. Accompanied by his father and the state's Health Minister, Siddharth's visit underscored the growing recognition of his potential to contribute both in the US and India. You Might Also Like: Anand Mahindra hails 'human calculator' Aaryan Shukla, wants to know his secret technique. Teen prodigy reveals — ncbn (@ncbn) A Rising Star with a Vision Beyond Heart Health This isn't Siddharth's first feat. He has previously designed a low-cost prosthetic arm and founded STEM IT, a startup promoting science education. Now a freshman studying computer science at the University of Texas, Siddharth plans to expand Circadian AI's capabilities to detect lung illnesses such as pneumonia and pulmonary embolism through similar sound analysis. Experts like electrophysiologist Dr. Jameel Ahmed recognize the app's promise in reducing heart disease morbidity and mortality by enabling early detection, especially in regions with limited medical access. Cardiovascular diseases remain the world's leading cause of death, making innovations like Siddharth's all the more vital. A Legacy in the Making Siddharth's ambition transcends personal success. 'I want to create a legacy where inventors and innovators push beyond their limits to change the world for the better,' he told Frisco Style . His remarkable journey from an Andhra family settled in Texas to becoming a global healthcare technology pioneer is inspiring a new generation of young inventors worldwide. In just seven seconds, this teenager's app could save countless lives — proving that sometimes, the biggest heart comes in the smallest packages. You Might Also Like: Pawan Kalyan and Chandrababu Naidu are impressed. The Andhra-origin 14-year-old's AI app is detecting heart diseases
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk is on ketamine? What is it and how does it affect the body?
Image credits: Getty Images No matter how controversial his actions may be, Elon Musk is one man who has made a name for himself. From technology to politics, Musk has taken a deep dive into reigning fields in order to expand his forte and empire. The 53-year-old is the owner of Tesla, X and SpaceX and has even tried his hands at politics by donating a whopping $275 million to Trump's campaign and heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). For someone to be able to do so much simultaneously would either require some superhuman powers or their diet needs to have something that fuels them from the inside. For Elon Musk, his diet includes a string of drugs like ketamine and psychedelic stimulants that have kept him running from one office to another in his Tesla. What is ketamine and how does it affect the body? Let's take a closer look. Musk once said he took ketamine every two weeks for depression as prescribed by his doctor. One would think a drug prescribed for depression would have positive and healing effects, right? Not really. Recently, the New York Times reported that during the 2024 presidential campaign, Musk was taking so much ketamine, sometimes daily, that he told people it was causing him bladder problems, which is a known symptom of excessive ketamine use. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo How many Americans use ketamine? Image credits: Getty Images Musk is not alone, as of 2015, 3 million Americans aged 12 or older have used ketamine in their lifetime. A recent study analysing the data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that past-year recreational ketamine use among adults has increased dramatically since 2015. From 2015 to 2019 ketamine use increased by 81.8% and from 2021 to 2022 it increased by 40%. While during the former years, the use was among adults with depression, in the latter years it was more among those without depression. One interesting point made in this study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, people were more likely to use ketamine if they used other substances such as ecstasy/MDMA, GHB and cocaine, one of which even Musk used. What is Ketamine? Image credits: Getty Images Ketamine, both an anesthetic and a hallucinogen was first synthesized in the 1960s and has been a part of surgery and veterinary medicine for a long time. A study published in the National Library of Medicine stated that ketamine showed significant improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms immediately one hour after a single dose. Clinics administering the drug which must be licensed by the government to provide intravenous infusions are becoming popular. The FDA approved the first ketamine-derived nasal spray for depression in 2019. 'There is absolutely a role for ketamine to help people with depression and suicidal ideation,' said Dr. Kevin Yang, a resident physician in psychiatry at the University of California-San Diego. How does Ketamine affect the body? Image credits: Getty Images 'At the same time, that doesn't mean it's going to be safe and effective for everyone,' added Yang. He was the co-author of the study mentioned above which stated that in the past year, the percentage of Americans using ketamine grew by 82%. The people are driven by both medical and recreational reasons. Ketamine drug seizures nationwide increased from 55 in 2017 to 247 in 2022, according to a 2023 study led by Joseph Palamar at New York University. The drug has been edging into the mainstream with more and more reports on its efficacy in treating depression. This has led to an increase in its market where companies like Johnson & Johnson developed its own ketamine-derived treatment for depression which received FDA approval in 2019. Not only nasal spray, people can visit clinics to get an IV of conventional ketamine for treatment for which the clinics have increased from 60 in 2015 to 1,200 and 1,500 today. But it's not sunny with ketamine. Outside of a clinical setting, it is usually consumed as a pill or powder, either snorted or mixed with a drink. A recent survey found that more than half of patients who tried to take the drug at home for depression either intentionally or accidentally took more than the prescribed amount. Over time, you can also end up building a tolerance to the high dosage and thus keep on increasing them to feel better effects. Scientists have found that people who use ketamine can develop a dependency on it, especially with frequent and high-dosage use. They become irritable or anxious without the drug and experience other withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, while the purity of clinical ketamine is ensured the same can not be said for the illicit sources sold ketamine which according to Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, who oversees the University of North Carolina's Street Drug Analysis Lab, has seen a recent rise in samples where ketamine is combined with other substances. Short-term overuse of the drug can lead to nausea, high blood pressure, and hallucination, whereas long-term use can lead to problems in a person's bladder and urinary tract. Rather than experimenting with the drug on your own or using it for recreational purposes, think of your health and safety and consult a medical expert if you need medical help. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
What is RSV and why are infants especially at risk in India?
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly known as RSV, is the leading cause of respiratory illness in children and infants worldwide. In India, RSV has also become a major issue for parents as well as pediatricians, particularly in the post-monsoon and winter seasons when cases surge. Although the nation continues to establish complete surveillance information, existing studies in tertiary care facilities show that RSV contributes 30% to 50% of bronchiolitis and pneumonia incidents in children aged two years and below. RSV is usually responsible for the symptoms of a cold in older children and adults. Nevertheless, in infants—especially those under six months of age, those who were premature at birth, or those with underlying health issues—the virus may cause severe lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchiolitis (inflammation of small airways) and pneumonia. These two diseases usually require hospitalization, and hospitalization rates between 3 and 5 per 100 infants less than one year of age per year have been estimated in India. The risks are not equal throughout the nation. Geographic and socioeconomic variations account for both the risk of and outcome of RSV infection. Children living in lower-income populations or in densely populated urban environments can have increased exposure from lesser access to healthcare, suboptimal ventilation, and slower diagnosis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo Seeing the international burden of RSV, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently supported maternal RSV vaccination as a prevention approach. This entails immunizing pregnant women so that antibodies are passed on to the unborn child, providing immunity in the vulnerable early months of life. Although not yet included in India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Indian health authorities, such as the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, are in the process of evaluating the vaccine's safety, effectiveness, and affordability in India. Phased introduction in high-risk groups could be the initial step. Apart from vaccines, monoclonal antibodies too have been promising in the prevention of RSV-related complications. These provide passive immunity in a single dose of injection. But the big constraint is cost. Without government incentives or being covered under public health schemes, these therapies could prove to be out of reach for the majority of Indian families. Differential pricing models and collaborations with insurance companies will become paramount in order to expand access. More encouragingly, Indian drug makers are not idle either. Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India have initiated RSV research programs and are likely to bank on their experience in the production of pediatric and maternal vaccines. Tie-ups with global firms can also open the way for local production of monoclonal antibodies, leading to costs savings as well as wider availability. Experts put wide availability of RSV vaccines and antibodies in India at least 2 to 4 years down the road. Early access could start in corporate or private hospitals dealing with high-risk pregnancies. In the private sector, however, the incorporation of RSV prevention in the national immunization program will be crucial to making RSV vaccines and antibodies accessible and beneficial for all Indian infants—irrespective of birthplace. Article courtesy: Dr. Shreya Dubey - Consultant - Neonatology & Paediatrics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram Russia's Lavrov Sounds Alarm Over German Army Buildup Plan; 'Very Worrying, Need To…' One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
