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New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
NDMC trains staff to fight vector-borne diseases, holds citywide awareness drives
NEW DELHI: With the monsoon season increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Tuesday conducted a training session for its field and supervisory staff on preventing and containing dengue, chikungunya, and malaria. The training session saw participation from over 250 sanitary inspectors, assistant inspectors, surveillance workers, and officials from the civil and horticulture departments. The initiative aimed to strengthen the technical capacity of frontline workers and promote effective on-ground action. NDMC Secretary Tariq Thomas stressed that prevention, timely treatment, and public awareness were crucial to tackling these diseases. He urged civic staff to focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites and promoting hygiene through widespread outreach campaigns. 'Massive awareness drives across NDMC areas, including schools, colleges, public spaces, markets and residential colonies, are the need of the hour,' he said, suggesting the use of street plays, IEC material, mobile vans, SMS alerts, and social media to reach citizens of the capital. Thomas also underlined the importance of empowering ground staff to conduct regular fogging, anti-larval operations, and inspections of both public and private premises. These activities, he said, are vital to disrupting the mosquito life cycle. During the session, Dr. Aditi, Zonal Epidemiologist from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, offered detailed guidance on identifying mosquito species, particularly the Aedes mosquito responsible for dengue. She also spoke about breeding habits, symptoms, and simple preventive measures. Experts at the session noted that while there are no vaccines currently available for dengue and chikungunya, controlling mosquito breeding remains the most effective line of defence. 'Prevention is far easier than cure,' one of them remarked. Dr Shakuntla Shrivastava, Medical Officer of Health, NDMC, expressed confidence that the trained workforce would carry out their duties with greater efficiency following the session.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘How can they wake up one day, ask us to leave?': Palika Dham complex in Delhi declared unsafe, residents told to vacate
Walk through the black gate of the Palika Dham Housing Complex in Gole Market, and you're met with a long row of modest grey buildings that have seen better days — broken tiles reveal the brickwork beneath, seepage marks stain the walls, and small plants have taken root in the cracks. Recently, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) declared the buildings unsafe and asked residents to vacate their homes. In a notice issued on July 11, residents were directed to register their names and details on the NDMC's e-Awas Portal between July 14 and 16 to apply for alternative housing. Verification of these applications was to be completed by July 17. 'Failure to do so will result in non-allotment of alternative accommodation at new locations… the existing quarters will have to be vacated compulsorily,' the notice further read. The announcement has left residents divided — all of whom are government employees, both retired and currently serving. Pointing to a broken window in her flat from the road, Roshni, an employee with the NDMC's health department, said, 'They are asking us to vacate for a valid reason. What if an accident takes place? Who will be responsible?' She said that a month ago, her sister-in-law suffered injuries to her back after plaster from the ceiling at her home fell on her. 'Moving and shifting the children to other schools will be a hassle, but it is better than living with a daily risk.' She added that the water tankers located above the homes have caused seepage and weakened the ceilings. Since the 1970s, the complex has been home to more than a hundred government employees, said residents. It also includes a gym, a temple, and a baraat ghar (wedding hall). Another employee with the health department, who was bringing his two children back from school on a two-wheeler, agreed that the apartments are in bad shape. 'I hope they allot a place nearby. But even if it is a little far from the school, I will drop my children.' However, President of the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA), Raju Dhakolia, said the solution is not to evict residents. 'Ever since the buildings were constructed in the 1970s, no repairs have been undertaken. Suddenly, 150 flats need to be emptied. How can they wake up one fine day and ask us to move out, declaring our homes unsafe?' said Dhakolia, a retired NDMC electricity department employee. The RWA has submitted a letter to the New Delhi Assembly constituency MLA, Parvesh Sahib Singh, requesting him to solve the problems faced by residents. Their concerns include broken handpumps, lack of security guards, overgrown trees, and leakage in water pipelines. When contacted, NDMC officials said these houses are brick masonry structures constructed in 1974. 'The NDMC places highest priority on the safety and welfare of its employees. After a detailed structural assessment, the Palika Dham flats, which are more than 50 years old and have outlived their lifespan, were declared unsafe for habitation. The safety of residents cannot be compromised under any circumstances. However, regular maintenance of these flats was being carried out by the council,' an official said. The official added that the civic body has taken proactive steps to ensure that affected residents are offered new, suitable and more spacious alternative accommodations.
India Today
a day ago
- Climate
- India Today
Delhi hit by heavy rain, several areas flooded; airport issues advisory
Heavy rain lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning, leading to waterlogging in multiple areas, including the heart of the national Delhi, home to key government offices and embassies, saw massive water accumulation after hours of downpour. A stretch of Janpath Road was reported submerged, with water entering several shops along the road connecting Janpath to Jantar Mantar was also partially under water. The affected stretch falls under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) jurisdiction and lies less than 500 metres from Parliament Light rain was also reported from Gurugram, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for more showers across Delhi through the day. The airport authorities have issued an advisory, urging passengers to check the status of their flights and leave for the airport well in advance to avoid delays due to possible traffic snarls caused by waterlogging. The minimum temperature in the capital settled at 26 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of year. The maximum is expected to hover around 35 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity was recorded at 83 per cent at 8.30 am, the IMD weather department forecast also indicated that light rain will continue through the week, with weather conditions expected to remain similar until July the city's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 103, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). An AQI between 101 and 200 is classified as moderate.- EndsMust Watch
Scoop
a day ago
- Climate
- Scoop
Droughts Are Causing Record Devastation Worldwide, UN-backed Report Reveals
21 July 2025 This is according to a new report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and the International Drought Resilience Alliance on the global impacts of droughts from 2023 to 2025. 'Drought is a silent killer. It creeps in, drains resources, and devastates lives in slow motion. Its scars run deep,' said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. 'This is not a dry spell,' stressed Dr. Mark Svoboda, report co-author and NDMC Director. 'This is a slow-moving global catastrophe, the worst I've ever seen. This report underscores the need for systematic monitoring of how drought affects lives, livelihoods, and the health of the ecosystems that we all depend on.' Record devastation in Africa According to the report, as 90 million people face acute hunger across Eastern and Southern Africa, some areas in the region have been experiencing the worst drought ever recorded. In Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, maize and wheat crops have suffered repeated failures. In Zimbabwe in particular, the 2024 corn crop was down 70 per cent year on year, maize prices doubled, and 9,000 cattle died of thirst and starvation. Some 43,000 people in Somalia died in 2022 alone due to drought-linked hunger. The crisis continued through 2025, with a quarter of the population facing crisis-level food insecurity at the beginning of the year. As a result of drought, Zambia is suffering one of the world's worst energy crises: in April, the Zambezi River plummeted to 20 per cent of its long-term average, and the country's largest hydroelectric plant, the Kariba Dam, fell to 7 per cent generation capacity, causing electricity blackouts of up to 21 hours a day. This has led to the shuttering of hospitals, bakeries, and factories, further compounding the devastation. Worldwide impacts But the effects of drought extend beyond Africa. For example, by September 2023 in Spain, two years of drought and record heat caused a 50 per cent drop in the olive crop, doubling olive oil prices nationwide. In Türkiye, drought-accelerated groundwater depletion has triggered sinkholes, endangering communities and their infrastructure while reducing aquifer storage capacity. In the Amazon Basin, record-low river levels in 2023 and 2024 led to mass deaths of fish and endangered dolphins, disrupted drinking water supplies and created transport challenges for hundreds of thousands. Ongoing deforestation and fires also threaten to shift the Amazon from a carbon sink to a carbon source. Declining water levels in the Panama Canal slashed transit by more than one-third, leading to major global trade disruptions. Among the spillover effects were declines in American soybean exports and shortages and rising prices reported in UK grocery stores. Call for cooperation and solutions The report listed several recommendations to help combat this crisis, including stronger early warning systems, real-time drought and drought impact monitoring, and nature-based solutions such as watershed restoration and indigenous crop use. It also called for more resilient infrastructure – including off-grid energy and alternative water supply systems – and global cooperation, particularly regarding transboundary river basins and trade routes.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Step By Step Into Neglect: These CP Escalators Are Taking You Nowhere
1 2 New Delhi: Multiple escalators meant for pedestrian safety and convenience at busy junctions in the Connaught Place area and its outer circle don't function, despite repeated complaints from shopkeepers and the public. Following criticism some time back, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) fixed some escalators from the 22 units installed across Connaught Place that link subways to major roads. However, a significant number of the escalators continue to be out of order because of broken components and missing parts due to thefts. This causes inconvenience to office-goers, and many prefer to use zebra crossings instead of the subways. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi During a visit to the outer circle, TOI found escalators not working in M Block at Barakhamba Road, at the intersection of Kasturba Gandhi Marg and the outer circle, opposite the Gopaldas building, among other places. At the M Block market, no sweeping seemed to have taken place as waste had collected next to the out-of-order escalators and pedestrians were avoiding using it. "These escalators aim to dissuade people from crossing the roads haphazardly and allow smooth movement of traffic on the road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, created by investing so much money, they are mostly non-operational," said Ritika Gupta, a pedestrian near M Block. The situation raises questions about maintenance and security upkeep of the NDMC, which claims to have installed hundreds of CCTV cameras and developed a control and command centre for the smooth management of its services. "These open or partly damaged escalators with no guards often become the hub for unwanted activities. Ideally, NDMC should have made arrangements or installed gates at the entrances of subways to keep these facilities safe at night. People, especially women commuters, avoid using them as they become deserted." NDMC officials stated that they do repair the units. "There are 22 escalators in the outer circle of Connaught Place, at five subways. At present, 13 are functional. While a comprehensive annual maintenance contract has been awarded to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) company, the replacement of damaged or stolen parts is not covered in the contract. The malfunctioning of the escalators is due to theft of parts or vandalism by miscreants. " Last year, the council also coordinated with the local police to check the theft of escalator items, carried out cleaning operations, and decided to depute security staff in three shifts for 75 days after the former NDMC vice chairman Satish Upadhyay made a visit to these sites. "To deal with the issue of theft of accessories, the civil engineering department has processed the case to cover all entrances and provide proper locking arrangements to avoid theft and damages," said the NDMC official. The officials added that these escalators were installed during 2010-11. As per the CPWD work manual, the prescribed life of escalators is 15 years, which is why the OEM firm has been directed to submit a detailed survey report of all the escalators as well. The council has also placed escalators in other locations across Lutyens' Delhi, apart from Connaught Place, and many times these are found non-operational too.
