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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta leads International Yoga Day event along Yamuna Ghat
Written By Drishti Jain On the occasion of the 11th International Yoga Day, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta performed yoga with other participants at the Sonia Vihar Water Sports Club along the Yamuna Ghat early on Saturday. As part of 'Yoga With Yamuna,' children performed yoga in the middle of the river, while others kayaked bearing Indian flags. The event was among the 11 programmes being conducted across Delhi on the occasion. Speaking about her experience, the chief minister said, 'I get reminded of my duties whenever I see the Yamuna. In an attempt to keep the Yamuna clean throughout Delhi, we have removed almost 1,000 tonnes of water hyacinth from it with the help of drones (launched as a pilot project) with help of the water department.' Gupta added that there are plans to run cruises along the river. She also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 'giving Yoga Day to the world' and for giving periodic reminders to lead a healthy life. Minister of Tourism Kapil Mishra, who was present at the event, said it was the first official yoga programme held by the government after many years. Meanwhile, taking a dig at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, MP Manoj Tiwari said, 'I fully trust the present ruling party. They will make Yamuna clean and healthy again.' Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht and Delhi chief secretary Dharmendra Kumar were also present. Before the yoga session began, PM Modi's speech from Visakhapatnam was telecast live on multiple screens at the venue. 'The whole world knows us today because of yoga,' said Balveer Singh Chauhan, 52, a resident of Soniya Vihar who performed yoga among the other participants. He said that doing yoga even for 15 minutes daily can keep your mind and soul calm. Dr Sangeeta Chaudhary, 52, who sat near Chauhan, said it was good to celebrate Yoga Day on such a large scale. 'Performing yoga should be a must for people who are above 40. I believe yoga camps should be held monthly,' she added.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
No odd-even scheme, crackdown on old vehicles, EV push: What's on Delhi's plan to fight pollution
Written by Drishti Jain The odd-even vehicle rationing scheme launched by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government may not make a comeback this pollution season, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta calling it 'troublesome'. Stating that it inconvenienced the people of Delhi, Gupta added, 'What if a family has only one vehicle at home? We must make decisions keeping in mind the needs and realities of Delhi's citizens.' The CM was speaking at the launch of the 'Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025' on Tuesday at the Delhi Secretariat. Gupta said a clean and healthy Delhi is the government's vision and reiterated that air pollution directly affects the health and well-being of citizens. The government aims to tackle air pollution through green initiatives, electric mobility expansion, traffic reforms, and scientific innovation. Gupta stressed the need to convert Delhi's transportation system to electric. To this end, 2,300 e-autos will be deployed at Delhi Metro stations and battery-operated e-rickshaws at various hubs. The government also intends to roll out 10,000 electric buses by 2027. Under the action plan, titled 'Shuddh Hawa Sabka Adhikar – Pradushan Par Zordar Prahar', the government will be installing sprinklers and anti-smog guns, which will be monitored using GPS, cameras, sensors and dashboards. 'The government has identified 13 pollution-causing hotspots across Delhi; mist sprayers will be installed on poles here,' Gupta added. The Chief Minister said pollution is affecting the quality of life. 'And vehicles are a primary source of pollution, both outside and locally. Now, overage vehicles will be regulated at Delhi's borders,' she said, adding that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at the city's entry points to identify end-of-life vehicles. Additionally, SMSes will be sent to overage vehicles registered in neighbouring states, warning them not to enter Delhi with effect from July 1. The plan will also use AI to monitor pollution caused by construction and pollution sites. Now, every site measuring more than 500 sqm has to be registered with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, and the registration should be displayed on the site. The DPCC portal will be equipped with AI to check if they flout the rules. Taking a dig at the previous government, Gupta said, 'Past governments treated pollution like a two-month problem, but the double engine sarkaar is tirelessly working on the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mitigate it from the roots.' Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said these steps have been thought out thoroughly by the government in the last 100 days.
