News / Author / Ipsita Pati

Ipsita Pati

Ipsita Pati is a senior correspondent with the Hindustan Times, covering Gurgaon. She has written on pollution, wildlife, forest cover, Maoists problems and illegal mining while working in different states of India including Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana.

Articles by Ipsita Pati

Dense smog engulfs Gurgaon, schools closed on Monday

After a slight improvement of the air quality on Saturday, the conditions deteriorated again on Sunday as an air quality index (AQI) of 460 was recorded, as per data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Visibility was reduced to 50 metres on Sunday.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Nov 12, 2017 10:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon chokes in absence of waste disposal system

Unchecked waste burning in the open and dumping of construction and demolition waste are to blame for the soaring pollution levels in the city

Construction and demolition waste dumped in Gurgaon’s Sector 62.(Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Nov 10, 2017 09:42 PM IST

Hinndustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon air pollution ‘severe’ for the first time since Diwali

The city’s air quality index, recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), touched 459 on Wednesday, up from 368 on Monday.

The city’s civic bodies have received hundreds of complaints of waste burning, like here at Rajiv Chowk, Gurgaon.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 08, 2017 11:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Visibility drops to 100m as smog engulfs Gurgaon

Tuesday smog caused by plummetting mercury, low wind speed; experts warn this to be the start of more such days

The air quality index (AQI) value for Gurgaon on Tuesday was 368, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.(Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 07, 2017 11:19 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Over 30 species spotted at Aravalli nature park during bird watching

The participants not only spotted different species of birds native to the Aravalli region, but also understand their importance in conserving the ecosystem

Gurgaon, India- November 07: House Sparrow spotted in Bio Diversity Park, this exercise is part of the month long Aravli Utsav that launched on November 01, in Gurgaon, India, on Tuesday, 07 November 2017. (Photo by Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Nov 07, 2017 06:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Haryana body to review ‘action taken’ by civic bodies to curb air pollution in Gurgaon

On Monday, the air quality index (AQI) was recorded to be 331 for Gurgaon which was 345 on Sunday.

Thick smog over Gurgaon on Sunday.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Nov 06, 2017 11:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Injured barn owl rescued from Sector 52, Gurgaon

Passersby had noticed the owl, which was injured around its claws, on the road near the green belt of New Greenwood CGHS in the sector.

The one-year-old owl was taken to Sultanpur National Park for treatment and is currently under observation.

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Published on Nov 06, 2017 11:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon CMO admits to inaction against quacks, promises to make amends

Sunday’s arrests come after an RTI query, by Mahender Kumar of Bahalpa village in Sohna, revealed that 224 fake clinics and 141 quacks were operating in rural Gurgaon.

A roadside ayurveda clinic in Sector 29 in Gurgaon. The health department has formed seven teams to crack down on clinics operating without licences.(PArveen Kumar/HT Photo)

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Updated on Nov 06, 2017 11:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Haryana govt plans to modify land preservation law, says Khattar in Gurgaon

Non-forest activities are not allowed in areas under PLPA and it is also important to note that the state has less than 4% of forest cover.

Talking about modification of the PLPA, Khattar said that the changing old laws will help all stakeholders to get clarity on the forest cover in the state.(HT File Photo)

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Published on Oct 27, 2017 10:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon not prepared for odd-even scheme in Delhi: Experts

The district administration is not prepared to handle the odd-even pressure, hence, commuters are likely to suffer, said experts.

The Delhi government on Thursday announced that it plans to roll out the odd-even traffic rationing scheme.(Hindustan Times)

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Published on Oct 26, 2017 11:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Second air quality monitoring station in Gurgaon to come up by next month

At present, the city has one air quality monitoring station located at Rajiv Chowk.

On Thursday, the air quality index in Gurgaon was at 355.(HT Photo)

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Published on Oct 26, 2017 11:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Leopard rescued from Palwal by wildlife team released into the Aravallis

A wildlife officer and a doctor was rushed to the spot where the leopard was sighted

The leopard was spotted prowling a farm land by some villagers on Monday evening while they were on their way back from a nearby forest.(HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Oct 24, 2017 11:25 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Pollution control board sets up teams to check open waste burning

Crackdown on burning of waste in the open is significant as the city’s air quality shot up alarmingly to 315 on Tuesday

Open burning of waste has often been blamed for the declining air quality in Gurgaon.(Parveen Kumar/HT FILE)

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Updated on Oct 24, 2017 10:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Four held for robbing man of bike, money

Acting on a tip-off, the personnel of Sector 9A police station on Friday nabbed four who were allegedly involved in snatching Rs22,000 and a bike from a man at gunpoint.

The accused were produced before a court on Saturday and as per the court direction, sent to Bhondsi jail on Sunday

cities

Published on Oct 22, 2017 10:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Air quality index gives hope, pollutants start to dissipate

Although Gurgaon’s air quality was marked ‘very poor’ over the last two days, it inched up to ‘poor’ on Sunday as pollutants started to clear

A further improvement in the city’s air quality will reduce the risk of respiratory illness.(Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 22, 2017 10:19 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Cases of respiratory illness up by 20% post Diwali in Gurgaon

Doctors said due to a fluctuation in temperature in the morning and evening, cases of respiratory illness have gone up in Gurgaon

Health experts said after Diwali, there was a sudden spurt in the concentration of suspended particulate matter in the city air, making it difficult for residents to breathe.(Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Oct 22, 2017 09:55 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Nine treated for burns ward at Gurgaon civil hospital on Diwali night

Private hospitals in the city also reported fewer patients with burns this year

Owing to restriction on bursting of firecrackers on Diwali this year, the cases of burns were fewer.(Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Oct 20, 2017 10:19 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Less number of injuries to birds, pets from crackers this Diwali

Experts said better awareness on risks to birds and pets from fireworks helped reduce cases of injuries this Diwali

Only 10 birds were treated for cracker-induced injuries at the Charity Birds Hospital on Diwali night.(Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Oct 20, 2017 10:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon breathes a bit easier this year after Diwali

The suspended particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was five times the permissible limit of 60 microns on Friday, when last year, it was almost 13 times the permissible limit .

Air quality index of the Central Pollution Control Board on Friday marked Gurgaon air as ‘ very poor’. But the skyline was relatively clearer than last year.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 20, 2017 09:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon air quality worsens, respiratory illnesses on the rise

Doctors said that the increase in the suspended particulate matter (PM), especially PM 2.5, is causing difficulty for residents.

The city’s air quality index on Wednesday was 265, which worsened from the reading of 248 on Tuesday and 200 on Monday.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 18, 2017 09:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon hospitals equipped to handle only minor burn cases

Worse still, not one private hospital in the city has a burn ward to cater to such patients.

Three children were injured during bursting of crackers on Wednesday.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 18, 2017 09:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Jewellery stores see heavy rush, but only token purchases

The Gold Souk Mall in Sushant Lok Phase-1, which has more than 200 shops dedicated to gold, silver and diamond jewellery, witnessed a footfall of 20,000 on Tuesday. However, store owners said the sale was sluggish.

The Gurgaon skyline stayed relatively clear on Wednesday giving residents a chance to enjoy the festival lights.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

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Published on Oct 18, 2017 09:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Five temporary air, noise monitoring units to be set up in Gurgaon

Officials of the board said that these temporary units are required to closely monitor steps to curb air and noise pollution, if any, after Diwali.

The temporary air and noise monitoring units will be installed at Bus stand, Sector 4, MG Road, Subhash Chowk and Civil Lines, officials said.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

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Published on Oct 17, 2017 10:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Duo held for selling fireworks in Gurgaon

Officials said that checks are being conducted with a view to enforcing the Supreme Court’s October 9 order, prohibiting the sale of fireworks and crackers in Delhi-NCR until November 1.

Two persons were arrested on Monday night.

cities

Published on Oct 17, 2017 09:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Dengue cases touch 105 in Gurgaon this season

The numerous anti-larvae programmes and awareness campaigns have failed to curd the spread of the disease as anticipated, doctors at the Civil Hospital, Gurgaon, said.

Stagnant water at Jharsa village, in Gurgaon, is a perfect breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 15, 2017 09:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Man held for gunning down two, looting another in Sohna

A case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in Sohna police station. The accused was produced in a court on Saturday and is on police remand for three days. The other two accused are absconding.

The accused has been identified as Satpal, a resident of Kushak Badoli of Palwal district. He is wanted in several cases, police said. Acting on a tipoff, police searched one of his hideouts in Palwal on Friday from where he was nabbed.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 15, 2017 09:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Fear of Audi’s GPS tracker, inability to switch off iPhone did in abductors

The GPS tracker in Audi A6 also forced the abductors to abandon the car and the victims midway, victims Ishan Sharma and Michael, who are in their mid-twenties, told police.

The police will prepare sketches in case the accused are not in the police records, said Narender Kumar (above), station house officer, IMT Manesar police sation.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Oct 15, 2017 09:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Two kidnapped in Audi rescued from Jhajjar, accused demanded Rs 5 crore ransom

Police said the businessman, Sunit Puniya, a resident of Sector 28 in Gurgaon, and his two friends — Ishan Shamra and Michael— were going to a liquor shop near Sector-3, Manesar, petrol pump around 2.30am when seven men in an SUV held them at gunpoint and demanded the keys of their Audi A6.

The Audi A6 is which the three men were abducted from Manesar by a gang of seven on Saturday night.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 15, 2017 09:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

Gurgaon cops rescue businessman and friend kidnapped for Rs 5-crore ransom

In yet another case of carjacking and kidnapping, a businessman and his friend were abducted Saturday night.

The car of businessman Ishan Sharma who was allegedly kidnapped for ransom Saturday night.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 15, 2017 01:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Gurgaon | ByIpsita Pati

Gurgaon: Two Indian palm civet cats released back in the Aravallis

A three-member rescue team arrived at the location around 5pm on Friday and safely rescued the animals within 30 minutes from the tree where they had taken shelter after a few stray dogs tried to harm them.

Two Indian palm civet cats were released back into the Aravallis after being rescued from near Bhondsi jail on Friday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Oct 14, 2017 10:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIpsita Pati, Gurgaon

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Ipsita Pati

Ipsita Pati is a senior correspondent with the Hindustan Times, covering Gurgaon. She has written on pollution, wildlife, forest cover, Maoists problems and illegal mining while working in different states of India including Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana.

After a slight improvement of the air quality on Saturday, the conditions deteriorated again on Sunday as an air quality index (AQI) of 460 was recorded, as per data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Unchecked waste burning in the open and dumping of construction and demolition waste are to blame for the soaring pollution levels in the city

The city’s air quality index, recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), touched 459 on Wednesday, up from 368 on Monday.

Tuesday smog caused by plummetting mercury, low wind speed; experts warn this to be the start of more such days

The participants not only spotted different species of birds native to the Aravalli region, but also understand their importance in conserving the ecosystem

On Monday, the air quality index (AQI) was recorded to be 331 for Gurgaon which was 345 on Sunday.

Passersby had noticed the owl, which was injured around its claws, on the road near the green belt of New Greenwood CGHS in the sector.

Sunday’s arrests come after an RTI query, by Mahender Kumar of Bahalpa village in Sohna, revealed that 224 fake clinics and 141 quacks were operating in rural Gurgaon.

Non-forest activities are not allowed in areas under PLPA and it is also important to note that the state has less than 4% of forest cover.

The district administration is not prepared to handle the odd-even pressure, hence, commuters are likely to suffer, said experts.

At present, the city has one air quality monitoring station located at Rajiv Chowk.

A wildlife officer and a doctor was rushed to the spot where the leopard was sighted

Crackdown on burning of waste in the open is significant as the city’s air quality shot up alarmingly to 315 on Tuesday

Acting on a tip-off, the personnel of Sector 9A police station on Friday nabbed four who were allegedly involved in snatching Rs22,000 and a bike from a man at gunpoint.

Although Gurgaon’s air quality was marked ‘very poor’ over the last two days, it inched up to ‘poor’ on Sunday as pollutants started to clear

Doctors said due to a fluctuation in temperature in the morning and evening, cases of respiratory illness have gone up in Gurgaon

Private hospitals in the city also reported fewer patients with burns this year

Experts said better awareness on risks to birds and pets from fireworks helped reduce cases of injuries this Diwali

The suspended particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was five times the permissible limit of 60 microns on Friday, when last year, it was almost 13 times the permissible limit .

Doctors said that the increase in the suspended particulate matter (PM), especially PM 2.5, is causing difficulty for residents.

Worse still, not one private hospital in the city has a burn ward to cater to such patients.

The Gold Souk Mall in Sushant Lok Phase-1, which has more than 200 shops dedicated to gold, silver and diamond jewellery, witnessed a footfall of 20,000 on Tuesday. However, store owners said the sale was sluggish.

Officials of the board said that these temporary units are required to closely monitor steps to curb air and noise pollution, if any, after Diwali.

Officials said that checks are being conducted with a view to enforcing the Supreme Court’s October 9 order, prohibiting the sale of fireworks and crackers in Delhi-NCR until November 1.

The numerous anti-larvae programmes and awareness campaigns have failed to curd the spread of the disease as anticipated, doctors at the Civil Hospital, Gurgaon, said.

A case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in Sohna police station. The accused was produced in a court on Saturday and is on police remand for three days. The other two accused are absconding.

The GPS tracker in Audi A6 also forced the abductors to abandon the car and the victims midway, victims Ishan Sharma and Michael, who are in their mid-twenties, told police.

Police said the businessman, Sunit Puniya, a resident of Sector 28 in Gurgaon, and his two friends — Ishan Shamra and Michael— were going to a liquor shop near Sector-3, Manesar, petrol pump around 2.30am when seven men in an SUV held them at gunpoint and demanded the keys of their Audi A6.

In yet another case of carjacking and kidnapping, a businessman and his friend were abducted Saturday night.

A three-member rescue team arrived at the location around 5pm on Friday and safely rescued the animals within 30 minutes from the tree where they had taken shelter after a few stray dogs tried to harm them.

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