Articles by Jasjeev Gandhiok
Wind speed brings down AQI but farm fires double
Farm fires in Punjab surged to their highest levels this season, prompting experts to sound warnings of severe air pollution in the Capital in the coming week even though there was a slight respite on Wednesday, and sparking a political war of words over the annual crisis.
Updated on Nov 03, 2022 12:56 AM IST
, New Delhi/sangrur
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Soumya Pillai and Vishal RambaniFires, dust, weather plunge Delhi into air emergency
Delhi breathed its filthiest air of the season on Tuesday, when the air quality index (AQI) jumped to the “severe” zone for the first time this season, as a lethal combination of farm fires in northern states, still local winds, dust from construction sites, and cool temperatures pushed the Capital headlong into a pollution emergency.
Updated on Nov 02, 2022 07:19 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Why air in Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar is more polluted than Delhi avg
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said DPCC has identified ongoing construction work on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor, local dust and pollution from diesel buses plying from a bus terminus on the Uttar Pradesh side as the three key reasons for higher pollution at these locations
Updated on Nov 01, 2022 12:19 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Alarm bells ring as Delhi’s AQI enters ‘severe’ zone
Delhi’s AQI hit the season’s high so far on Saturday, when pollution gauges read 397 at 4pm.
Updated on Nov 01, 2022 12:20 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Delhi skies turn sepia as farm fire smoke shrouds Capital
Air quality in the next seven days could be worse as the fires peak during the first week of November. Last year, the contribution of stubble burning had touched 36% on November 5 and 48% on November 7, Safar data show. In 2020, the contribution of stubble burning touched a peak of 42% on November 5
Updated on Oct 31, 2022 01:12 PM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Delhi: Sanjay Lake to be first water body to get wetland tag
The wetland tag, which ensures legal protection and funds for renovations, will be extended to at least 19 other water bodies in Delhi.
Published on Oct 30, 2022 11:49 PM IST
Spike in Delhi pollution as winter spiral begins
The air quality index (AQI) slumped from an uncharacteristically clean 271 on Wednesday to 354 on Thursday, according to the 4pm bulletins released on both days by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Published on Oct 27, 2022 11:55 PM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Why the Yamuna in Delhi froths every year: An explainer
Every year on Chhath, thousands of devotees take a dip in the river at several ghats to celebrate the four-day festival. Last year too, hundreds of devotees were seen taking a dip in the river at Kalindi Kunj despite a heavy layer of foam over the water surface
Updated on Oct 28, 2022 02:37 PM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Over 60% paddy area in Punjab still to be cleared, more farm fires to come: CAQM
State data showed that on Thursday Punjab recorded 1,111 farm fires, taking the number of farm fires of this season to 8147.
Updated on Oct 28, 2022 05:04 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi:
Strong winds, lower farm fires help Delhi avert air disaster
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened from 259 (poor) at 4pm a day before Diwali to 312 (very poor) on Monday, but then fell to 303 on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily bulletin
Updated on Oct 26, 2022 07:11 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Delhi cracker ban turns to ashes, violations go undeterred
Officials and residents conceded that firecrackers were burst, while data shared by the Delhi Police suggested there was little enforcement of the ban: there were 23 cases registered relating to the use and sale of firecrackers in the last 24 days.
Updated on Oct 26, 2022 10:43 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
No check on crackers but wind, sun aid city
The national capital witnessed the unfettered use of firecrackers across the city on Diwali, but the city was spared the toxic aftermath of flagrant violations as strong winds washed away much of the pollutants that choked the city’s air on Monday evening.
Published on Oct 25, 2022 11:18 PM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Poisonous cocktail in crackers cause lasting damage to health
Every year, on Diwali, the concentration of ultra-fine PM2.5 particles that contain a variety of heavy metals and toxic chemical compounds multiplies manifold between evening and the next morning as people set off firecrackers.
Updated on Oct 23, 2022 06:45 AM IST
, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Jasjeev Gandhiok and Soumya PillaiCalm wind, farm fires signal polluted Diwali
The contribution of farm residue burning across the northern plains is expected to rise to 15-18% by the day after Diwali
Updated on Oct 23, 2022 07:33 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Fish in Najafgarh drain died of pollution, sewage in July: Report
The Najafgarh drain connects the Najafgarh Jheel to the Yamuna, with several drains from Haryana bringing sewage, sludge and effluents to the lake.
Updated on Oct 22, 2022 07:49 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Delhi has had its cleanest start to winter in years, shows report
New Delhi The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday released an analysis of winter pollution in Delhi since 2015, finding that this October has had the cleanest start to the winter season with respect to PM 2
Published on Oct 21, 2022 12:00 AM IST
85% paddy area in Punjab yet to be cleared of stubble; late spike likely
Experts say with late rainfall spells in the region, data indicates harvesting is likely to have been delayed this year, with a considerable spike now expected in the peak harvest window of October 15 to November 15, where a majority of the remaining 85% paddy fields are likely to be cleared out.
Updated on Oct 21, 2022 04:30 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Use of diesel gensets banned in NCR after forecast of ‘very poor’ air
The CAQM sub-committee convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday after forecasts by the Early Warning System (EWS) under the Union ministry of earth sciences showed that the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi will may touch the ‘very poor’ level by October 22 and could remain in this category for the subsequent six days
Published on Oct 20, 2022 12:01 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Delhi's AQI poor, share of farm fires still low
The city's air quality deteriorated slightly over a 24-hour period to touch a reading of 241 as per the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily 4pm national bulletin.
Published on Oct 19, 2022 04:44 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Air emergency looms as farm fires rage with rains receding
Satellite data from Nasa, collated by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, showed Punjab recorded 169 fires on Saturday, while Haryana recorded 36 fires. There were no fires recorded in UP
Updated on Oct 17, 2022 03:11 PM IST
Butterfly census: 76 species spotted in Delhi’s biodiversity parks
The Biodiversity Parks Programme began the week-long census of butterflies species across seven biodiversity parks in Delhi last year onwards. Earlier, there used to be a single-day Big Butterfly Count.
Updated on Oct 17, 2022 03:11 PM IST
Ban no bar: Delhi cracker sales continue unabated
New Delhi: There may be a complete ban on sale, manufacture, storage and use of all types of firecrackers in the Capital, but clandestine sales are continuing unabated – both online and in some of Delhi’s busiest markets ahead of Diwali
Published on Oct 16, 2022 02:20 PM IST
Bomb threat at Terminal 3 of Delhi’s IGI airport, security forces on high alert
The Airport Operations Control Centre, after receiving the email around 11 pm on Thursday, alerted the Delhi Police and other security agencies to look into the incident immediately as soon as the flight lands
Updated on Oct 14, 2022 12:47 PM IST
NGT order allowing for expansion of WtE plants sets wrong precedent, say activists, residents
An NGT order on Wednesday has allowed for the expansion of waste to energy (WtE) plants in the capital to proceed without an environmental clearance. Experts and activists say the Capital’s three existing WtE plants have violated pollution norms on multiple occasions, and a free reign for expansion sets a dangerous precedent
Updated on Oct 14, 2022 12:16 AM IST
Nights get cooler as Delhi records lowest min temp
With cooler northwesterly winds starting to blow towards Delhi-NCR, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials say the nighttime temperature in Delhi is expected to remain below 20 degrees moving forward, with a drop to 16°C expected in the next seven days.
Updated on Oct 14, 2022 10:50 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
NGT penalises Delhi govt for failing to manage waste at landfill sites
In response to the penalty, a Delhi government official said the NGT order was being studied, and refused to comment further.
Updated on Oct 13, 2022 04:57 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Union minister reviews steps to curb pollution in NCR
According to officials aware of the matter, the minister said a participatory and coordinated approach by all states will yield positive results this winter, even as all stakeholders focused on tackling stubble burning in Tuesday’s meeting.
Updated on Oct 12, 2022 04:59 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi
Delhi sets new record: Wettest October since 1956
With 6.5mm of rainfall being added in the last 24 hours, Delhi has now received 128.2mm of rainfall, going past 122.5mm of rainfall it received last October to so far make it Delhi’s wettest October since 1956, when Delhi had received 236.2mm of rainfall
Updated on Oct 12, 2022 02:37 PM IST
Delhi sees its cleanest air day since August 2020
Monday’s AQI reading was an improvement on Sunday’s reading of 48, and was only surpassed by the reading on August 31, 2020, when the AQI was 41.
Updated on Oct 11, 2022 05:33 AM IST
Delhi resets its rain record, sees 2nd wettest 24-hr spell of rainfall in 15 yrs
The city added another 7.4mm of rainfall between 8.30am and 5.30pm on Sunday, taking October’s rainfall total so far to 107.3mm—around seven times the normal monthly mark of 15.1mm. To be sure, Delhi received 122.5mm of rainfall in all of October last year.
Updated on Oct 10, 2022 07:12 AM IST