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News18
an hour ago
- General
- News18
Delhi govt mulling plan to install 150 outdoor air purifiers in Nehru Park
New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Nehru Park may soon become Delhi's first 'clean air zone" with 150 outdoor air purifiers. For the plan to become a reality, it needs the support of 80-90 per cent of the residents. On Sunday, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) launched a three-day survey in Nehru Park to gauge public opinion. The survey asks citizens: 'Would you like to have an air purifier in your park?" Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that as promised earlier, local residents are being involved in the decision-making process. 'The project will go ahead only if 80-90 per cent of the residents say yes. If only 20-30 per cent respond positively, we will not pursue it," Sirsa told PTI. He said the survey responses will be compiled and the data will directly inform the government's final decision on installing high-efficiency air purifiers across the 85-acre park. This initiative is specifically designed for the public, particularly walkers and joggers, and their participation is being ensured in taking the final decision, he added. The project is being billed as a pilot initiative, the first of its kind, to maintain 'good' air quality even during peak pollution periods. Sirsa said the air purifiers, which are up to 9-ft-tall and filter PM2.5 particulate matter, will be installed throughout the park. Delhi witnesses hazardous pollution levels in winter. In 2023, two smog towers were closed in Delhi after the DPCC termed them ineffective. The new initiative will be implemented in partnership with a private company, Umeandus, under corporate social responsibility. Each purifier, priced around Rs 5 lakh, will cover an area of approximately 600 square metres. Clearance from the New Delhi Municipal Council will be required for the installation of the air purifiers. PTI NSM DIV DIV (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 20:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi Congress chief hits out at govt citing DPCC report on Yamuna pollution
NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Saturday criticised the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government in the city over the worsening pollution levels in the Yamuna River, calling it a 'grave concern'. Referring to the July pollution report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Yadav said that pollution levels in the Yamuna have worsened since March. This, he said, clearly exposes the BJP's hollow promises on cleaning the river. He alleged that the government has only made tall claims about cleaning the Yamuna after assuming power in Delhi but has taken no concrete action. Instead, it has misled the public by performing symbolic rituals like Yamuna Aarti. 'BJP's poll promise of giving top priority to cleaning the Yamuna has completely fallen apart after the DPCC report. As per clean water standards, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) should be 3 mg/litre or less, dissolved oxygen should be 5 mg/litre or more, and fecal coliform (indicating excreta/organic pollution) should be 500 MPN per 100 ml. Water becomes unusable when it reaches 2,500 MPN,' Yadav said. He added that although the Delhi government allocated `9,000 crore for cleaning the Yamuna and sewage treatment, no visible work has been done in the last six months. No new sewage treatment plants have been built, nor have faulty ones been repaired. 'BJP-ruled states —Delhi, Haryana and UP— are coming together to formulate an action plan to clean the polluted Yamuna, but first the Gupta government should clean the 22 km stretch of the Yamuna running through Delhi, which is the most polluted, while the construction of 12 proposed decentralised STPs is still hanging in suspense,' Yadav said. He questioned how the government plans to operate a cruise boat in the Yamuna by December when the river remains highly polluted.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Like giving Louis Vuitton to the starving': NGT slams DPCC for spending green fund on ads
Even as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) collected around Rs 130.53 crore as the Environment Compensation (EC) fund between April 2015 and June 30 this year, the regulatory body has spent only Rs 59.39 crore so far. While there was no expenditure on air pollution monitoring in 2024–25, a total amount of Rs 8.2 crore was spent on 'advertising and printing' during the period. 'How is an advertisement helpful for the environment?' the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked the DPCC Thursday as it analysed the submissions and rapped the regulatory authority over its spending pattern. Drawing an analogy, the bench constituted by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr Afroz Ahmad made another sharp remark as it said the expenditure on ads is like 'giving Louis Vuitton vouchers to a starving person' — a reference to cosmetic and misdirected use of funds while the core problem persists. Invoking the principle of inter-generational equity, the bench said the misuse of EC funds undermines long-term ecological justice. According to the data submitted by the DPCC in the green court, it registered a steep rise in expenditure under the category — 'honorarium for oversight committee or technical consultants' (Rs 5.7 crore) in 2024-25, a jump from Rs 0.2 crore in the previous year. Last year, DPCC had spent Rs 15.09 lakh on air pollution monitoring and Rs 3.6 crore on 'advertising and printing'. In a marked exception, while no expenditure was incurred for the rejuvenation of water bodies from 2015 to 2023-24, the year 2024-25 saw a spending of Rs 19.62 crore — the highest in all categories. Other areas where EC funds, collected from violators of environmental laws, are generally used are research and study projects, procurement of instruments for labs, installing recycling units in government schools, and setting up noise monitoring stations, among others. The green court was hearing a plea filed in 2022 on air pollution caused by a hot mix plant in West Delhi's Najafgarh, and had asked the DPCC to provide details of the EC funds. The NGT also sought the details of the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the utilisation of such funds in a December 2023 order. While DPCC submitted a SOP on June 3 for timely EC recovery and utilisation, the Tribunal, remaining unconvinced, noted a serious gap between policy and implementation. Even as the DPCC counsel cited awareness under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines as justification on Thursday, the Tribunal appeared dissatisfied and countered that 'the purpose of EC is twofold: to deter potential violators… and to remediate actual environmental damage' — neither of which is achieved through disproportionate spending on publicity. The NGT said the pattern emerging in multiple cases showed the EC is often not realised or, even when collected, remains unutilised for extended periods, causing irreversible environmental damage. The NGT has asked its Registry 'to list all pending cases involving EC fund utilisation' before the bench before the next hearing in August. Meanwhile, the DPCC stated in its submission that it issued the SOP 'to streamline the procedure for imposition or recovery, or realisation of EC'. Counsel for the DPCC and Secretary, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) will have to furnish responses too.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
DPCC launches innovation challenge to reduce emissions from overage vehicles
New Delhi: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will launch an innovation challenge focusing on identifying and promoting low-cost, easy-to-maintain and effective technological solutions capable of reducing or absorbing PM2.5 and PM10 emissions (at least twice the amount emitted) from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) operating within the territory of Delhi. A standing order was issued by the environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, to the DPCC on Thursday in this regard. The order stated that the proposed technologies or devices may be fitted inside or externally on the vehicle and be designed to neutralise, capture or offset PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants beyond the levels emitted by the ELV. The solutions should emphasise affordability for end-users, ease of installation and maintenance, scalability and real-world feasibility. "The challenge shall be launched within 30 days from the issue of this order, followed by evaluation and declaration of results within 90 days of launch," the order said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The challenge will be open to individuals, startups, research institutions and technology developers across India. To select the technologies, an independent panel of technical experts should be constituted for the purpose of evaluating the submissions. "A premier technical institute such as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi shall be formally requested to lead this technical committee and participate in the evaluation and selection process. The panel may also include representatives from environmental engineering institutes, automotive sector experts and members from the DPCC," said the order. The order stated that the final report outlining the submissions received, the evaluation methodology and recommended solutions will be shared with the govt for final approval. "DPCC has been asked to show a formal outline of the project, including a problem statement, within five days from the issuance of this order." The environment minister said, "Reducing vehicular pollution in Delhi is a challenge for us. Delhi govt is exploring all options to reduce vehicular pollution."
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
10 industrial units penalised for violating pollution norms, one discharged carcinogenic waste into Yamuna, NGT told
Ten industrial units found violating environmental norms in the residential areas in East Delhi have been penalised for causing pollution, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The DPCC issued Environmental Compensation (EC) orders against all 10 defaulting units, the NGT was told. One of these units was allegedly discharging 'highly toxic and carcinogenic' effluents into the Yamuna. The action comes in response to a plea being heard by the NGT that alleged unauthorised operation by these units. According to the plea, filed by a Delhi resident, Varun Gulati, last year, illegal 'red-category' industries – such as electoplating and metal processing — were operating in densely populated residential areas. A joint committee comprising officials from the DPCC, Revenue department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police, and BSES conducted surprise inspections in April last year. As per the DPCC's submission on Wednesday, a total of 36 units were surveyed, and inspections were held again for nine of the 36 units. Eleven showcause notices were issued, and Environmental Compensation was finally imposed on 10 units. Among the most serious violations was an electroplating unit operating without any pollution control device, which was found to be discharging untreated wastewater into drains leading to the Yamuna. The DPCC said the waste was 'highly toxic and carcinogenic in nature,' and the unit was sealed after a fine of ₹10 lakh was imposed. In another case, a powder-coating unit in Ghonda was found non-operational, but it was still storing machinery and coloured powder. The MCD sealed the premises, and the DPCC imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh. Here is a list of other units penalised: > An illegal godown for aluminium hardware in Bhajanpura (EC: Rs 40,000) > A garment and bag stitching unit in Bhajanpura (EC: Rs 40,000) > A hanger manufacturing unit using metal wire in Village Gamri (EC: Rs 40,000) > A paper roll and paper cup godown in Gamri (EC: Rs 40,000) > A cloth bag stitching and screen-printing unit (orange-category industry) in Gamri (EC: Rs 5 lakh) > A metal surface finishing unit in Gamri (EC: Rs 40,000) > A red-category electroplating unit in Gamri, where the first floor was sealed (EC: Rs 10 lakh) > An injection-moulding unit involved in waste plastic reprocessing without washing (EC: Rs 5 lakh) The DPCC said that enforcement action in such residential non-conforming areas falls under the jurisdiction of the Zonal Deputy Commissioners of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), in line with a 2019 Supreme Court order.
