Latest news with #PollutionControlandEmergencyMeasures'
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi government's dust pollution mitigation project to cost over Rs 2,000 crore
The Delhi government's comprehensive road dust pollution mitigation project is likely to cost Rs 2,388 crore over a period of 10 years, according to a proposal approved by the Cabinet. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had last month headed a meeting of the Cabinet, which approved a 'Pollution Control and Emergency Measures' project under which 250 water sprinkler machines fitted with anti-smog guns will be hired at an estimated cost of Rs 1,158 crore. Besides, 70 mechanical road sweeping ( MRS ) machines fitted with 210 water sprinklers, water tankers and anti-smog guns will be hired at the cost Rs 1,230 crore for a period of seven years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dhoni's Exclusive Home Interior Choice? HomeLane Get Quote Undo One of these MRS machines was launched by the chief minister along with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The Public Works Department (PWD), which has been providing facilities for mechanically sweeping and sprinkling water on roads under its jurisdiction for the entire year except during the monsoon season, will execute this project, said officials. Live Events "This project is only for cleaning of dust in the carriageway, excluding cleaning of footpaths and greening of central verges. The machines under this project may be utilized in Delhi on a need basis for overall improvement of the city's ambient air quality," said the minutes of the meeting. The efficiency of mechanical sweeping has been reported as 55 per cent effective in reducing PM-10 concentration in the air and it increases to 90 per cent efficacy if assisted by vacuum-assisted sweeping, according to a study done by IIT Kanpur in 2016. The officials said that a similar plan was proposed last year by the Environment Department to hand over the work of dust suppression on main roads to the PWD. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi ( MCD ), however, objected to the proposal stating it will execute the project as sanitation is its obligatory function, they added. The officials said that the project was transferred to the MCD and added no funds were, however, spent. "Hence, it has been decided with the approval of the chief minister and the environment minister that the project has faced considerable delays and given the importance of the project, the department has been directed to revise the Cabinet note for getting the work executed by the PWD," said the approved proposal. The entire fleet will daily work in three shifts of eight hours each to execute the project efficiently, according to the plan, and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will provide 15,000 kiloliters of treated water per day free of cost to the PWD to operate water sprinklers and anti-smog guns. The PWD manages 1,400 kilometres of main roads across the city. These roads, which witness substantial traffic movement, will initially be covered under this project with a scope for expansion to other roads.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi cabinet approves extra 30k subsidy for installing solar panels
Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved the rollout of the PM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity – State Top-Up Scheme, increasing the total subsidy for residential solar panels to over ₹1 lakh, with an additional ₹30,000 top-up. Chief minister Rekha Gupta said residents can save up to ₹4,200 monthly by installing rooftop solar panels. The cabinet also cleared a comprehensive dust control plan to fight rising air pollution in the city. As part of the initiative, 250 water sprinklers and 70 mechanised road sweeping machines will be deployed across Delhi before winter. Announcing the decisions, Gupta said, 'Delhi govt approved an additional subsidy of ₹30,000 (₹10,000 per kW) for residential solar installations. This increases the total subsidy available to ₹1,08,000, the highest support offered under any such scheme so far.' For a 1 kW solar panel, residents will receive ₹10,000 subsidy from the Delhi govt. A budgetary allocation of ₹50 crore has been made for the scheme, with the aim of installing rooftop solar systems on 2.3 lakh residential units over the next three years. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), launched by PM Modi in Feb 2024, recently recorded 10 lakh solar-powered homes. According to Centre, the scheme has so far received over 47.3 lakh applications and govt has disbursed over ₹4,770 crore in subsidies to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries. CM also announced that Delhi govt is partnering with financial institutions to offer easy loan options for the remaining installation cost of about ₹90,000. 'This will enable residents to install solar panels without any upfront payment,' she said. The new structure allows consumers to access solar power solutions at zero initial cost while saving an average of ₹4,200 on their monthly electricity bills, Gupta said, adding that the initiative is a 'transformative step' toward building a cleaner, greener Delhi. CM said to reduce pollution on Delhi's roads, the cabinet has also approved a comprehensive sanitation and dust-control plan for PWD, under which advanced cleaning machines will be procured. At least 250 water sprinkler machines integrated with anti-smog guns and 70 mechanical road sweeping machines integrated with 210 water sprinkler machines and anti-smog guns, 18 dump vehicles, and 18 water tankers will be deployed. 'These machines are expected to be fully operational before the onset of winter,' she said. CM said the environment department will provide the necessary budget to PWD under the 'Pollution Control and Emergency Measures' scheme for deployment of the machines. The machines will be used exclusively for dust cleaning on city roads, with the goal of improving overall air quality. Gupta also announced the cabinet had approved a Directorate of Education proposal to reinstate the name of the 'Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship to Meritorious Students' scheme.
