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Paras Singh

Articles by Paras Singh

Delhi: With dip in temperature, mosquito breeding and fresh dengue cases go down

A senior public health official from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the nodal agency for vector-borne disease data collection, said studies show a significant dip in mosquito breeding metrics and mosquito density.

Delhi has so far registered 5,277 dengue cases. In picture - Civic body worker fumigates at Pandav Nagar Market area in New Delhi.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 22, 2021 02:23 AM IST

ByParas Singh

Going the RTO way: Delhi Jal Board to make zonal offices ‘faceless’

The water utility operates 62 ZRO offices, which act as physical interface between 2.4 million consumers and the Jal Board

The DJB revenue department has issued a list of 10 services, such as water tanker booking, rainwater harvesting certification, borewell permissions, and others that will be available online. (Representative photo/Shutterstock)

cities

Updated on Nov 22, 2021 02:16 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Aftermath of farm laws’ repeal: Residents hope for a smoother commute soon

Several local residents helped sustain the protesters, who were hundreds of kilometres away from their homes, but several others were frustrated by traffic snarls, long detours, and the loss of business that the stir caused

For commuters between Delhi and Ghaziabad, the Friday’s announcement by the Prime Minister that the government has decided to repeal the three farm laws, came as a signal that their daily traffic woes may soon come to an end. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2021 01:23 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

A year of farm protests: Joy at Ground Zero, after 358 days

The occupants of the three border points -- in tents and trucks that morphed into shanties and makeshift cottages at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri-- on Friday burst crackers, danced, and sang to welcome the announcement by PM Modi to repeal the contentious laws.

Farmers celebrate after PM Narendra Modi in his public address at 9am announced that central government would repeal the three controversial farm bills, at Singhu border in New Delhi on Friday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2021 01:09 AM IST

ByFareeha Iftikhar, Soumya Pillai & Paras Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi: Treat before you dump, let Yamuna breathe, say experts

The dissolved oxygen levels, an indicator of the river’s capacity to sustain aquatic life, remain zero while the bio-chemical oxygen demand load has gone up from about 129 tonnes per day in 1982-83 to over 261 tonnes per day in 2019.

River watchers and experts said Delhi needs to address its unplanned urban growth and work towards restoring the natural ecological flow of the river to allow dilution of waste water. (Amal KS/Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Nov 19, 2021 05:01 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Water storage units common breeding spots, says South Delhi civic body

The analysis, conducted by SDMC’s anti-malaria operations headquarter and the public health department and based on mosquito breeding site data from 32 hot spot wards, chalks out the current distribution of mosquito breeding sites and its variation.

A municipal worker fumigates a slum area as a preventive measure against mosquito-born diseases in Kolkata on November 15, 2021. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP) (AFP)

cities

Updated on Nov 16, 2021 02:56 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi: South MCD forms committee to audit waste management concessionaires

The order to form a panel that will audit records from the last three months, was issued after unanimous approval from the standing committee of the civic body

Several standing committee members recently highlighted that while the agreement of the local body with the private companies stipulates strong penal provisions and fines in case of violations and absence of mandated machinery/manpower, the sanitation department has rarely imposed these provisions. (HT Archive)

cities

Published on Nov 14, 2021 11:26 PM IST

ByParas Singh

Vending certificates in S Delhi: Councillors want ceremony, officials disagree

The point of contention is the civic body’s insistence on sending the COVs via post to the registered address, as mandated by the town vending committee rules, but many councillors insist on holding ceremonies to hand them out

Over 71,000 vendors have been identified in phase 1 of the survey that was completed on September 30 this year, but the number is expected to rise as the Delhi government has extended the survey by two months, till December 7. (PTI)

cities

Updated on Nov 15, 2021 05:36 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi pollution: Construction ban may delay key infra projects

A senior PWD official who asked not to be named said that some of these projects are specifically aimed at decongesting arterial stretches and thereby cutting vehicular emissions, adding that the government should grant exemption to such projects.

The Delhi government on Saturday announced a ban on construction between November 14 and 17 in view of the hazardous levels of air pollution. Delhi recorded an AQI of 437 in the severe zone. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 14, 2021 03:44 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi: North MCD nurses and paramedic staff unions threaten to go on strike

While the resident doctors’ association at Hindu Rao hospital has not yet announced a strike, the association has also written to Union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to intervene and get their pending salaries, with dearness allowance, released

Hindu Rao doctors pointed out that the situation of pending salaries has been brought to the notice of the authorities multiple times but no concrete action has been taken. (Picture for representation only/Vipin Kumar-HT)

cities

Published on Nov 12, 2021 11:31 PM IST

ByParas Singh, New Delhi

GK’s busy M-Block market to get biggest car parking lot in South Delhi

A senior engineering official from the SDMC said that the agency, design and the rates that will be charged at the new parking facility have been finalised and once approved by the standing committee, the work order will be issued

Officials said that there are frequent traffic jams due to vehicles parked on the roads near the M-block market. (HT Archive)

cities

Updated on Nov 13, 2021 06:12 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

New buildings in Delhi may need vector control steps

The decision comes at a time when cases of dengue -- a vector-borne disease that impacts the city every year -- are on the rise.

Delhi reported its worst dengue outbreak in 2015, when 16,000 people were infected and at least 60 died of the disease, according to official records.

cities

Updated on Nov 12, 2021 04:50 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Plan for five-star hotel at Delhi's Pragati Maidan delayed

The union government had approved in December 2019 a project to transfer of 3.7 acres of land at Pragati Maidan on a 99-year lease for ₹611 crore for a five-star hotel

Preparation underway for India International Trade Fair organised by ITPO, at Pragati Maidan Complex, on Wednesday (Amal KS/Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Nov 12, 2021 04:49 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi’s Pragati Maidan to host trade fair after a year’s gap

After missing the annual event last year due to Covid, the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) will be organising 40th India International Trade Fair over an area of 70,000 sqm.

Preparation work underway for India International Trade Fair organised by ITPO, at Pragati Maidan Complex, in New Delhi , India, on Wednesday. (Amal KS/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 11, 2021 03:55 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Boats, water sprinkling, bamboo barriers to clear foam in Yamuna on Chhath

Massive foam built up on the surface of the Yamuna due to pollution levels touching unprecedented levels at Kalindi Kunj. On Wednesday, a government official, it was decide to deploy boats, bamboo barricades and water mixed with anti-phosphates to clear the froth

Women offer prayer at sunset on the occasion of Chhath Puja at a ghat in Geeta Colony on Wednesday. The Delhi government deployed boats and water sprinklers to clear foam in the Yamuna on the occasion. (Ajay Aggarwal /HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 11, 2021 03:44 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Abhishek Dey, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

At fault for a frothy Yamuna: Raw sewage, frothing agents

According to a report by a monitoring committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal in 2018, the 22-km stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad and Okhla, accounts for 76% of the total pollution in the river

River watchers and experts pointed out that the froth downstream of Okhla barrage has been occurring for more than a decade now but the magnitude of the problem has worsened in the last few years. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 09, 2021 02:15 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Supreme Court panel flags violations at Ghazipur abattoir in Delhi

The panel recommended that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee should inspect and test the ground water and air pollution that was caused by the Ghazipur abattoir

Located adjacent to the Ghazipur Murga Mandi and Fish market, the Ghazipur abattoir is run by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation. (Raj K Raj/HT Archive)

cities

Updated on Nov 08, 2021 03:15 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi: EDMC schools to start in-person classes today with 50% strength

EDMC mayor said only 50% children will be called at a time to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour is observed in the school premises.

New Delhi, India - Oct. 31, 2021: Delhi Dy chief minister manish Sisodia visits Sarvodya Co-Education Senior Secondary school after schools reopened in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, October 31, 2021. (Photo by Raj K Raj / Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Nov 08, 2021 02:43 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi: Dengue deaths likely to go up as 9 cases still pending panel review

So far, Delhi has declared six confirmed dengue deaths — the highest since 2017 when the disease claimed 10 lives. Of these, five were declared on Monday (November 1), the weekly report released by the city’s municipal authorities showed.

Delhi reported 531 new cases of dengue during the week ending October 30, taking the Capital’s dengue tally to 1,537 this year.

cities

Updated on Nov 04, 2021 04:22 AM IST

ByParas Singh, New Delhi

Day after platforms collapse, SDMC repairs auto parking lot, cops file FIR

Four platforms in the Green Park facility allegedly malfunctioned due to a technical fault during a maintenance operation around 5.30pm on Tuesday, leading to minor damage to at least two vehicles and the facility temporarily halting operations

The pictures from the accident site in the Green Park automated parking lot indicate minor damage to at least two vehicles. (Sourced)

cities

Updated on Nov 04, 2021 04:25 AM IST

ByParas Singh

Snag at Delhi automated parking lot causes 4 platforms to collapse

While no one has been injured, the first such accident at an automated parking facility has raised questions about the safety and maintenance of these lots

South corporation officials attempted to downplay the incident and said only two vehicles sustained “minor damages”. (Sourced)

cities

Updated on Nov 03, 2021 07:27 AM IST

ByParas Singh

Of five new dengue victims in Delhi, four are under 18, say officials

There was only one dengue death in New Delhi last year, two in 2019 and four in 2018, according to official data. In 2015, a major dengue outbreak killed 60 people

According to experts, children and working adults who are often outside the house are more susceptible to getting infected by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.(Sakib Ali/HT file photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 02, 2021 07:25 AM IST

ByAnonna Dutt and Paras Singh

Delhi: After 13 years, north civic body to issue licences for food trucks

A senior North Delhi municipal official said no such catering vans has been issued a fresh license since 2008, and only the old licenses are renewed every year.

The leader of the North MCD House Chhail Bihari Goswami said food carts will help increase employment opportunities and that catering vans.(Sanchit Khanna/HT file photo. Representative image)

cities

Updated on Nov 01, 2021 07:22 AM IST

ByParas Singh

NDMC announces partial rollback of last year’s property tax hike

A proposal to this effect was cleared by the standing committee on Friday.

Irked by the clause, trader bodies said honest tax payers, who filed their taxes early, are being harassed(Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Oct 30, 2021 04:37 AM IST

ByParas Singh, New Delhi

All south Delhi wards to get primary health care centre, civic agency says

Among the areas identified for the project are Sagarpur, Mohan Garden, Tughlaqabad extension, Goyla Dairy and Keshopur.

The new policy calls for alternating some staff in nearby health centres as an interim measure to tackle the staff crunch. (HT File)

cities

Updated on Oct 28, 2021 06:45 AM IST

ByParas Singh, New Delhi

Delhi: Ashram underpass mess to extend beyond November

The 750-metre underpass, which has missed four deadlines since the work began on the project in 2019, connects Nizamuddin railway bridge and CSIR Apartments at the Ashram intersection.

The transmission line runs between Maharani Bagh and AIIMS trauma centre. Arvind Yadav/HT

cities

Updated on Oct 27, 2021 06:42 AM IST

ByParas Singh, New Delhi

Few buildings in north Delhi took completion certificates in last three years

A ‘completion certification’ is a mandatory legal document, which attests that a new building has been completed according to safety norms and regulations of the Buildings Act

Data from the North Delhi Municipal Corporation shows that the civic body sanctioned over 14,600 buildings between April 2017 and August 2021, but only 1,054 building owners (less than 8%) took completion certificates. (Representative photo)

real estate

Updated on Oct 25, 2021 04:03 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

East Delhi corporation reduces construction waste dumping sites

East Delhi will now have 17 dumping sites instead of 61; the region generates 750-800 tonnes of construction debris every day

A dusty stretch at Karnal Road. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Oct 23, 2021 12:06 AM IST

ByParas Singh

Delhi’s north body to move TB clinic near Old Delhi rly stn, revamp site

The relocation, which is estimated to cost around ₹1.4 crore, is part of the civic body’s plan to generate revenue and its cost will be borne by the commercial complex developer

A doctor checks the chest X-ray of a patient. Generally referred to as Peeli Kothi clinic in the area, the site has originally housed the tuberculosis clinic from before Independence and was later upgraded to a modern chest clinic in 1999. (AFP File)

cities

Updated on Oct 22, 2021 06:19 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Wastewater: The key to meeting Delhi’s drinking water demand

Four projects to re-use highly treated effluents are being planned: Water exchange with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, deployment of a successful Singapore model, and the revival of dying water bodies. Proper implementation remains the key challenge

Despite so many sewage treatment plants [STPs], a large portion of the Yamuna still flows as an untreated sewage canal (Hindustan Times)

analysis

Updated on Oct 21, 2021 12:16 PM IST

ByParas Singh

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Paras Singh

A senior public health official from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the nodal agency for vector-borne disease data collection, said studies show a significant dip in mosquito breeding metrics and mosquito density.

The water utility operates 62 ZRO offices, which act as physical interface between 2.4 million consumers and the Jal Board

Several local residents helped sustain the protesters, who were hundreds of kilometres away from their homes, but several others were frustrated by traffic snarls, long detours, and the loss of business that the stir caused

The occupants of the three border points -- in tents and trucks that morphed into shanties and makeshift cottages at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri-- on Friday burst crackers, danced, and sang to welcome the announcement by PM Modi to repeal the contentious laws.

The dissolved oxygen levels, an indicator of the river’s capacity to sustain aquatic life, remain zero while the bio-chemical oxygen demand load has gone up from about 129 tonnes per day in 1982-83 to over 261 tonnes per day in 2019.

The analysis, conducted by SDMC’s anti-malaria operations headquarter and the public health department and based on mosquito breeding site data from 32 hot spot wards, chalks out the current distribution of mosquito breeding sites and its variation.

The order to form a panel that will audit records from the last three months, was issued after unanimous approval from the standing committee of the civic body

The point of contention is the civic body’s insistence on sending the COVs via post to the registered address, as mandated by the town vending committee rules, but many councillors insist on holding ceremonies to hand them out

A senior PWD official who asked not to be named said that some of these projects are specifically aimed at decongesting arterial stretches and thereby cutting vehicular emissions, adding that the government should grant exemption to such projects.

While the resident doctors’ association at Hindu Rao hospital has not yet announced a strike, the association has also written to Union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to intervene and get their pending salaries, with dearness allowance, released

A senior engineering official from the SDMC said that the agency, design and the rates that will be charged at the new parking facility have been finalised and once approved by the standing committee, the work order will be issued

The decision comes at a time when cases of dengue -- a vector-borne disease that impacts the city every year -- are on the rise.

The union government had approved in December 2019 a project to transfer of 3.7 acres of land at Pragati Maidan on a 99-year lease for ₹611 crore for a five-star hotel

After missing the annual event last year due to Covid, the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) will be organising 40th India International Trade Fair over an area of 70,000 sqm.

Massive foam built up on the surface of the Yamuna due to pollution levels touching unprecedented levels at Kalindi Kunj. On Wednesday, a government official, it was decide to deploy boats, bamboo barricades and water mixed with anti-phosphates to clear the froth

According to a report by a monitoring committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal in 2018, the 22-km stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad and Okhla, accounts for 76% of the total pollution in the river

The panel recommended that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee should inspect and test the ground water and air pollution that was caused by the Ghazipur abattoir

EDMC mayor said only 50% children will be called at a time to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour is observed in the school premises.

So far, Delhi has declared six confirmed dengue deaths — the highest since 2017 when the disease claimed 10 lives. Of these, five were declared on Monday (November 1), the weekly report released by the city’s municipal authorities showed.

Four platforms in the Green Park facility allegedly malfunctioned due to a technical fault during a maintenance operation around 5.30pm on Tuesday, leading to minor damage to at least two vehicles and the facility temporarily halting operations

While no one has been injured, the first such accident at an automated parking facility has raised questions about the safety and maintenance of these lots

There was only one dengue death in New Delhi last year, two in 2019 and four in 2018, according to official data. In 2015, a major dengue outbreak killed 60 people

A senior North Delhi municipal official said no such catering vans has been issued a fresh license since 2008, and only the old licenses are renewed every year.

A proposal to this effect was cleared by the standing committee on Friday.

Among the areas identified for the project are Sagarpur, Mohan Garden, Tughlaqabad extension, Goyla Dairy and Keshopur.

The 750-metre underpass, which has missed four deadlines since the work began on the project in 2019, connects Nizamuddin railway bridge and CSIR Apartments at the Ashram intersection.

A ‘completion certification’ is a mandatory legal document, which attests that a new building has been completed according to safety norms and regulations of the Buildings Act

East Delhi will now have 17 dumping sites instead of 61; the region generates 750-800 tonnes of construction debris every day

The relocation, which is estimated to cost around ₹1.4 crore, is part of the civic body’s plan to generate revenue and its cost will be borne by the commercial complex developer

Four projects to re-use highly treated effluents are being planned: Water exchange with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, deployment of a successful Singapore model, and the revival of dying water bodies. Proper implementation remains the key challenge

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