National

Delhi schools reopen today, Air quality still in poor condition

Air Pollution

New Delhi: Schools, colleges, and other institutions in Delhi reopens today. Delhi have been remained closed for over two weeks due to hazardous air quality levels in the national capital. Delhi’s environment Minister Gopal Rai had on Wednesday announced the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s decision to reopen educational institutions after the air quality levels in the city showed improvement.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi on November 13 announced that schools and educational institutions would be closed for a week’s period to avoid the exposure of students to dangerous air quality levels. Construction activities were also banned during the period and offices were directed to adopt work-from-home as much as possible.

While the ban was initially imposed for a week, it was further extended due to plunging levels of the air quality index (AQI) in the city. Schooling was continued fully on the online mode, as was the case during the Covid-induced lockdowns.

The decision from the Delhi government to halt physical classes came after the Supreme Court expressed concerns over high pollution levels and exposing school-going children to dangerous conditions. The top court had suggested a two-day lockdown as an immediate measure to the Centre to help in tackling air pollution. Following this, Kejriwal called for an emergency meeting in which the decisions to shut schools and halt construction activities were made.

However, after another high-level meeting on Wednesday last week, Rai announced that the schools and other institutions would be reopened on Monday (November 29). Also, as part of its efforts to compensate construction workers who have been affected by the ban, the Delhi government had announced that a sum of ₹5,000 would be deposited in the bank accounts of each worker, news agency ANI had earlier reported.

From installing smog towers to launching traffic related measures such as the ‘red light on gaadi off’ campaign, the Delhi government has adopted many measures to tackle air pollution. Rai and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia have urged the public to rely on public transport rather than private vehicles.

 

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Warrant Against Param Bir Singh Cancelled, Asked To Deposit 15,000 In CM Relief Fund

Ashmita Chhabria

Mumbai : The team investigating the corruption allegations against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, has cancelled the warrant against ex-Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh, on Monday. Param Bir Singh has been asked to deposit a sum or Rs. 15,000 in the CM Relief Fund.

The commission has taken this step after Param Bir appeared before Justice KU Chandiwal during the day. The one-man panel further asked the top cop to deposit an amount of Rs.15,000 in the chief minister’s relief fund within a week for not appearing before it earlier.

In the month of March the commission was formed to probe the allegations levelled by Param Bir against the then home minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh.

Through lawyers, Param Bir filed an affidavit before the commission, stating that he has no evidence to produce before the court and does not wishes to cross-examine any witness in the case.

The panel had earlier fined Singh on multiple occasions for failing to appear before it and issued a warrant against him.

Singh, who was transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in March in the aftermath of the Antilia bomb scare episode, had alleged that Deshmukh asked police officers to collect ₹100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in the city.

Declared absconding by a court here in an extortion case, Singh surfaced in public last week after six months and appeared before the Mumbai crime branch to record his statement.

The Supreme Court has granted him temporary protection from arrest. Singh appeared before Thane police on Friday in connection with an extortion case filed against him and some other police officials on the complaint of a local builder. The IPS officer is facing at least five extortion cases in Maharashtra.

Singh appeared before Thane police on Friday in connection with an extortion case filed against him and some other police officials on the complaint of a local builder.

The IPS officer is facing at least five extortion cases in Maharashtra.

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