Latest news with #ManjinderSinghSirsa
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi to link digital scales with ePoS at ration shops
New Delhi: In a move to enhance transparency and accountability in Delhi's Public Distribution System (PDS), the food and civil supplies department will soon integrate electronic point of sale (ePoS) devices with digital weighing machines at all 1,967 fair price shops (FPS) across the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This step aims to curb manipulation in manual weighing, which often leads to under-delivery of subsidised food grains. The digital system will reduce the scope for fraud and ensure accurate quantity delivery to beneficiaries, an official said. The decision was made on the instructions of food and civil supplies minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, after a meeting with department officials and the Delhi Sarkari Ration Dealers Sangh. "This integration is a long-awaited reform that will eliminate discrepancies and ensure real-time authentication," Sirsa stated. He directed all FPS dealers and officials to ensure regular maintenance of ePoS machines, stressing that no eligible beneficiary should be denied ration due to technical issues. He also reinforced the implementation of the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' (ONORC) scheme to ensure timely distribution of ration to migrant beneficiaries. "Strict action will be taken against FPS dealers who deny rightful ration under NFSA. All shops must clearly display ONORC eligibility details to help migrant beneficiaries access their entitlements easily," the official said. The integration will enable real-time weight data recording during transactions, helping prevent stock diversion and malpractices. tnn
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Chief Justice BR Gavai Joins Delhi Government's Plantation Drive
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai on Saturday said forests do not belong to us alone but to future generations and stressed the need to strike a balance between development and environmental preservation. #WATCH | Delhi Forest & Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "Today, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and other Supreme Court judges joined the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign... They gave a message that to make Delhi pollution-free, we all have to… — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2025 Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was speaking at a mega plantation drive organised by the Delhi Government under Van Mahotsav 2025 at the PBG Ground in Delhi Ridge. "Everyone starts getting worried as soon as October arrives," the chief justice said, alluding to Delhi's annual battle with pollution. "While development is important, we must understand the cost at which it comes. Forests, which are a part of humanity's lineage, do not belong to us alone, "they belong to future generations too. They play a vital role in reducing Delhi's pollution," he added. Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, accompanied by 20 judges of the Supreme Court, participated in the drive alongside Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The event was also part of the nationwide 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The chief justice highlighted the Supreme Court's consistent emphasis on sustainable development and its landmark advisories on pollution control, urging all stakeholders to recognise their shared responsibility in addressing the capital's environmental crisis. Sirsa thanked Gavai and the judges for their participation, saying their presence sent a powerful message about the importance of collective action. "As the CJI rightly said, collective responsibility is key to protecting Delhi's environment," the environment minister said. "Their participation under the 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' campaign reinforces our commitment to restoring Delhi's green cover and reclaiming clean air," he said. Officials said thousands of saplings were planted during the drive, which aims to mitigate urban heat, improve air quality, and enhance Delhi's biodiversity.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Cloud seeding trials in September to combat pollution in Delhi
NEW DELHI: The national capital's first cloud seeding trial to induce artificial rain and curb air pollution will now take place in the first half of September, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday Initially scheduled for early July, the operation was postponed after expert agencies, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, found July's weather unsuitable for cloud seeding. Authorities have now opted for a revised window in the first and second week of September, which aligns with the retreating monsoon, known for creating ideal atmospheric conditions for the process. The Delhi government has sanctioned Rs 3.21 crore for this experimental initiative. According to Sirsa, all necessary permissions have been secured, including operational clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. A Cessna 206-H aircraft, registered as VT-IIT, will be used for the operation. It has been specially outfitted with cloud seeding instrumentation by IIT-Kanpur, and its crew holds all requisite licenses and certifications. The trials will consist of five sorties over north Delhi areas such as Rohini, Bawana, Alipur, and Burari, extending into adjacent parts of Uttar Pradesh like Loni and Baghpat. During each sortie, the aircraft will fly below the cloud base and disperse hygroscopic substances, mainly sodium chloride and other aerosols, into the clouds. These particles help moisture in the atmosphere to condense and form raindrops, potentially leading to artificial rainfall. Officials hope that the resulting precipitation will help clear particulate matter from the air, improving the air quality. Strict aviation safety protocols will be observed, with the aircraft avoiding restricted zones and no aerial photography permitted during operations. 'This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution. If successful, it could become a game-changer in environmental strategy, particularly during the high-pollution post-monsoon season,' Sirsa said, adding that the government is 'fully prepared' for the execution of the trial.
India Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Delhi to conduct cloud seeding trials in September to curb air pollution
Delhi will witness its first cloud-seeding trial in the first two weeks of September in a bid to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution levels, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on trials, earlier planned for early July, were postponed after inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, indicated that weather conditions in July were not conducive for effective revised window was chosen to coincide with the retreating monsoon, which offers more suitable cloud conditions. The Delhi government has allocated Rs 3.21 crore for this pilot project, which is being led by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted operational clearance for the trials. The aircraft has been equipped with cloud-seeding instrumentation, and its crew holds all the required licenses and clarified that the aircraft will avoid prohibited areas and no aerial photography will be conducted during the operation in strict adherence to aviation safety norms."We have taken all the necessary permissions, and the aircraft is fully ready. The cloud seeding will now take place in the first and second weeks of September," the minister said, adding that "the instrumentation work on the aircraft has been completed by IIT-Kanpur, and we are fully prepared."The trials, which will be conducted using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT), will consist of five sorties over pollution-prone regions in north Delhi, including Rohini, Bawana, Alipur and Burari, as well as parts of adjoining Uttar Pradesh, such as Loni and the sorties, the aircraft will fly below the cloud base and release hygroscopic particles - such as sodium chloride and other aerosols - into the clouds to stimulate precipitation. This weather modification technique is aimed at inducing artificial rain that could help wash out airborne pollutants.'This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution. If successful, it will open a new avenue for Delhi to deal with hazardous air quality, especially during the post-monsoon period,' Sirsa said.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Delhi
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Delhi to conduct cloud seeding trials in September to combat air pollution: Environment Minister
Delhi will witness its first cloud seeding trial in the first two weeks of September in a bid to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution levels, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday (July 18, 2025). The trials, earlier planned for early July, were postponed after inputs from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), IIT-Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, indicated that weather conditions in July were not conducive for effective seeding. The revised window was chosen to coincide with the retreating monsoon, which offers more suitable cloud conditions. The Delhi government has allocated ₹3.21 crore for this pilot project, which is being led by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT-Kanpur. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted operational clearance for the trials. The aircraft has been equipped with cloud seeding instrumentation, and its crew holds all the required licenses and certifications. Mr. Sirsa clarified that the aircraft will avoid prohibited areas and no aerial photography will be conducted during the operation in strict adherence to aviation safety norms. "We have taken all the necessary permissions, and the aircraft is fully ready. The cloud seeding will now take place in the first and second week of September," the Minister said, adding that "the instrumentation work on the aircraft has been completed by IIT-Kanpur, and we are fully prepared." The trials, which will be conducted using a Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT), will consist of five sorties over pollution-prone regions in north Delhi, including Rohini, Bawana, Alipur, and Burari, as well as parts of adjoining Uttar Pradesh, such as Loni and Baghpat. During the sorties, the aircraft will fly below the cloud base and release hygroscopic particles — such as sodium chloride and other aerosols — into the clouds to stimulate precipitation. This weather modification technique is aimed at inducing artificial rain that could help wash out airborne pollutants. 'This is a scientific intervention to combat air pollution. If successful, it will open a new avenue for Delhi to deal with hazardous air quality, especially during the post-monsoon period,' Mr. Sirsa said.
