News / Author / Jasjeev Gandhiok

Jasjeev Gandhiok

Articles by Jasjeev Gandhiok

Rain has little impact as air quality slides to severe in Delhi

Weather experts said a combination of calm winds, low temperature and very light rain adding to Delhi’s moisture content, took the air quality index in Delhi to a severe reading of 429.

While only 1mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, cloud cover through the day meant Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of just 19.8°C – five notches below normal and the lowest maximum so far this winter season. (Sanchit Khanna/HT)

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Published on Dec 03, 2021 12:04 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Stubble fire count in north India at five-year high, Nasa satellite data shows

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) found that there have been 90,984 fires cumulatively in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh this year, almost 7,000 more than last year’s 84,525.

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Published on Nov 30, 2021 11:47 PM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi

Cocktail of slow winds, stubble fires gives Delhi its worst November AQI

The month usually sees two western disturbances, which often bring rain and stronger winds that disperse pollutants. This year, however, there were none.

The national capital recorded the maximum of 11 days in November when the index rose above 400, which is considered severe by the pollution watchdog. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Dec 01, 2021 06:47 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Pollution crisis: Ban on entry of trucks into Delhi extended till December 7

The government last Wednesday had announced that the ban on the entry of petrol and diesel trucks into New Delhi would remain only until December 3

The entry ban will not apply to CNG trucks, e-trucks, or those engaged in essential services. (HT Photo)

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Updated on Nov 30, 2021 12:16 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Annual winter bird survey: 150 birders record sightings across Capital

Birders said all sightings made from the count this year will be compiled over the coming week, and the results are expected in three-four days.

Over 150 birders in 20 teams went to birding hot spots such as Sultanpur, Mangar Bani, Bhondsi, Sanjay Van and the Yamuna floodplains, to record rare sightings, including that of greylag geese. (Representational image/HT Archive)

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Published on Nov 29, 2021 12:06 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Delhi: Slow winds, fog keep air pollution in severe zone

While the Delhi government had banned construction activities in the Capital from Thursday on the orders of the Supreme Court, calm winds and low temperatures trapped pollutants. Delhi also saw shallow fog in the morning, which mixed with pollutants to cause smog

A view of Yamuna Bank near National Highway 24 on Friday. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (Safar), relief is expected from November 29 onwards, when surface winds touch 15-20 km/hr. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Nov 27, 2021 12:27 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi

With end of farmers’ protest in sight after a year, gloom gives way to relief

The three border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur were chock-a-block with tractors as people celebrated the one-year anniversary of the protest against the three farm laws

Farmers celebrate at the Singhu border site on Friday. (Amal KS/Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Nov 27, 2021 12:31 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok & Peeyush Khandelwal, New Delhi

Farm protests: Farmers at Singhu prepare for first anniversary

Thousands of farmers rallied to the borders of Delhi last November to protest against three laws brought by the centre that sought to deregulate farm trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 announced that the government will repeal the three farm laws

A scene from the farmers’ protest at the Singhu border as it completes a year on Friday. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the centre will repeal the three laws. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

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Updated on Nov 26, 2021 01:26 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

NO2 levels hazardous in many traffic-heavy areas

Vehicular emissions are the primary source of NO2 in the national capital.

This is followed by Anand Vihar (136 micrograms per cubic metre), East Arjun Nagar (125 micrograms per cubic metre) and Okhla (112 micrograms per cubic metre).(HT Photo)

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Updated on Nov 25, 2021 06:20 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Delhi schools to reopen next week as curbs lifted

Some of the other curbs on activities that are linked to polluting activities were also slightly relaxed – such as all trucks running on CNG (compressed natural gas) will be allowed to enter from Saturday, but those using conventional fuels will not unless they are carrying essential supplies

Schools and colleges have largely been closed since March, 2020 – they reopened briefly in the Capital before the authorities ordered them to close to minimise exposure of children to the bad air. (HT)

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Updated on Nov 25, 2021 12:35 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi

Behind differing farm fire counts: Satellite resolution, methodology

Experts say a difference in methodology, satellite resolution, and the area being scanned can explain the differing farm fire figures.

Pollution levels in Delhi improved to the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday, the CPCB's data showed.(HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 24, 2021 02:12 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Capital’s evening air improves to ‘poor’ as winds get stronger

Monday was also the first day this November when visibility improved to beyond 3,000 metres in Palam, said officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The overall AQI of Delhi was 311 at 4pm on Monday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.(HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 23, 2021 02:30 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Winds bring relief to Delhi, but air still ‘very poor’

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees Celsius (°C) on Monday – one degree above normal, while the minimum was recorded at 11.4°C, normal for this time of the year

The IMD said this is the first time this month that visibility has gone beyond the 3,000 metres mark in Delhi, ranging between 1,500 and 3,200 metres during the day in Palam. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 23, 2021 12:32 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Building ban in Delhi lifted, calls grow to reopen schools

The move was questioned by experts who pointed out that construction is a major contributor to pollution, while keeping students out of schools after in-person classes barely resumed following a near 20-month shutdown will further the significant losses in learning for children.

“In view of the improvement in the air quality and inconvenience caused to workers, we have decided to lift the ban on construction and demolition activities,” Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Nov 23, 2021 01:28 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi lifts ban on construction work as air quality improves marginally

Delhi’s environment minister Gopal Rai on Monday said a ban on construction and demolition activities has been lifted as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading improved to the “poor” category

The New Delhi government has lifted a ban on construction work as air quality has improved marginally. (HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 22, 2021 03:06 PM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Crowd at Singhu border swells as farmers await final repeal of farm laws

The celebrations will begin with a nagar kirtan at Singhu border on Sunday, with the numbers expected to treble in the next few days, and the groups serving langar have already begun to load up on stock.

Farmers seen at the protest site, at Singhu Border, in New Delhi, on Saturday.

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Updated on Nov 21, 2021 01:58 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Stubble fires go past 2020 tally, rise four-fold since November 1

The farm fire analysis is based on a study of VIIRS-SNP satellite data by a NASA scientist, who said that while daily numbers have begun to reduce, it is unclear whether the 2016 record will remain unbroken – and if fires continue, the threat of bad air continues to loom over Delhi.

Till November 16, Punjab recorded 74,015 farm fire counts, compared to 72,373 in the same period last year. In 2016, the figure stood at 84,886.(PTI file photo)

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Updated on Nov 18, 2021 04:41 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi pollution: Govt issues order, bans entry of trucks in Capital

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had ordered that the trucks of trucks into the Capital be barred to control hazardous levels of air pollution in the city

CAQM has banned the entry of trucks in Delhi in view of the hazardous levels of air pollution in the city. The poor air quality in the national capital has Delhiites gasping for fresh air. (Raj K Raj/HT photo)

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Published on Nov 18, 2021 12:53 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok and Soumya Pillai

Clarify contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s air pollution: Rai to Centre

The Delhi government’s environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday asked the Central government to clarify the exact contribution of stubble burning to New Delhi’s air pollution

A field is seen blanketed in smog amid air pollution near Mayur Vihar in New Delhi, India on Tuesday. (HT/ Raj K Raj)

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Updated on Nov 16, 2021 04:32 PM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Stubble fire emissions to stay low but AQI may worsen, say scientists

The share of stubble burning could meanwhile drop to around 6% in the next two days

Farmers burn the stubble in a field, in Jalandhar on Tuesday. ((ANI Photo))

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Published on Nov 16, 2021 02:45 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi pollution: Air quality may deteriorate over next 48 hours

Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 353 (very poor) on Monday, maginally poor from 330 on Sunday. However, it may shift towards the higher end of the very poor range (up to 400), forecasters said

New Delhi, Nov 15 (ANI): Anti-Smog gun being used as the city's air quality decreases due to rising air pollution near Bhairon Marg, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo) (Amit Sharma)

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Published on Nov 16, 2021 12:15 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Explained: Delhi’s air pollution spikes year-round

Data has shown that the national capital witnesses spike in air pollution in three periods of the year for which a number of meteorological factors are responsible, besides the local sources of pollution. An explainer

New Delhi , India - Nov. 15, 2021: A view of Akshardham engulfed in thick smog in New Delhi, India, on Monday, November 15, 2021.(Photo by Amal KS / Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

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Published on Nov 15, 2021 11:58 PM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok

Winds help improve index, but Capital’s air stays very polluted

Delhi recorded an average AQI of 330 in the very poor category, down from 437 (severe) recorded on Saturday. According to the CPCB data, AQI on seven of the first 14 days in November was in the severe zone

Doctors have warned that even short-term exposure to such polluted air may cause irreversible damage to critical organs of even healthy individuals. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

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Updated on Nov 15, 2021 04:51 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Farm fires may pick up soon, experts say

Experts also cautioned that a smaller window would not necessarily mean fewer fires; in fact, this year’s cumulative fire count could match or even surpass the figures of the past years, an estimation that does not bode well for Delhi

While the number of farm fires collectively in Punjab and Haryana were only 20,723 till October 31, this figure has more than tripled, to 62,308 in the last 10 days. (PTI)

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Updated on Nov 12, 2021 04:04 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi pollution: AQI improves to enter very poor zone

According to experts, though local meteorological conditions largely remained the same, a slight drop in the speed of wind that is bringing stubble emissions to Delhi has led to this slight improvement in the last 24 hours

New Delhi , India - November 10, 2021: A view of a street engulfed in thick smog at Teen Murti Marg in New Delhi , India, on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.(Photo by Amal KS / Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Nov 11, 2021 03:26 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Parts of north Delhi have city’s worst air quality, pollution control body says

To be sure, air pollution in Delhi has been at its worst in the first week of November this year, breaching levels not seen since January

Teen Murti Marg in Delhi shrouded in a haze of pollution earlier this week. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

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Updated on Nov 11, 2021 03:19 AM IST

BySoumya Pillai, Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi’s 13 hotspots continue to record alarmingly high levels of pollution

Four new locations -- Alipur, ITO, Nehru Nagar and Sonia Vihar -- all recorded at least four ‘severe’ air days, levels exceeding even some of the existing pollution hot spots

In a review meeting held by the DPCC on Tuesday evening, air quality data analysed between November 1 and November 8 shows that not only do these locations continue to record ‘severe’ air, but newer locations with high pollution levels have also emerged during this period. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 11, 2021 12:15 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok & Soumya Pillai, New Delhi

AQI ‘severe’ again as farm fires hit record

The AQI on Tuesday, according to the 4pm health bulletin, was 404, worse than the 390 on Monday.

The overall air quality in the Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category. (ANI Photo)

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Updated on Nov 10, 2021 12:56 AM IST

ByAbhishek Jha, Jasjeev Gandhiok, 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)

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Updated on Nov 09, 2021 02:15 AM IST

ByParas Singh, Jasjeev Gandhiok, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Pollution-check measures amped up in Delhi as AQI improves marginally

The sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas met on Monday, and decided to upgrade the Grap measures from the current steps that were being enforced under the ‘very poor’ air category

On Monday, the AQI dropped to 390 with wind speeds picking up and the share of stubble fires to Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution dipping to 30%, according to CPCB and Safar data. (Amal KS/Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Nov 09, 2021 03:30 AM IST

ByJasjeev Gandhiok, hindustantimes.com, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

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Jasjeev Gandhiok

Weather experts said a combination of calm winds, low temperature and very light rain adding to Delhi’s moisture content, took the air quality index in Delhi to a severe reading of 429.

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) found that there have been 90,984 fires cumulatively in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh this year, almost 7,000 more than last year’s 84,525.

The month usually sees two western disturbances, which often bring rain and stronger winds that disperse pollutants. This year, however, there were none.

The government last Wednesday had announced that the ban on the entry of petrol and diesel trucks into New Delhi would remain only until December 3

Birders said all sightings made from the count this year will be compiled over the coming week, and the results are expected in three-four days.

While the Delhi government had banned construction activities in the Capital from Thursday on the orders of the Supreme Court, calm winds and low temperatures trapped pollutants. Delhi also saw shallow fog in the morning, which mixed with pollutants to cause smog

The three border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur were chock-a-block with tractors as people celebrated the one-year anniversary of the protest against the three farm laws

Thousands of farmers rallied to the borders of Delhi last November to protest against three laws brought by the centre that sought to deregulate farm trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 announced that the government will repeal the three farm laws

Vehicular emissions are the primary source of NO2 in the national capital.

Some of the other curbs on activities that are linked to polluting activities were also slightly relaxed – such as all trucks running on CNG (compressed natural gas) will be allowed to enter from Saturday, but those using conventional fuels will not unless they are carrying essential supplies

Experts say a difference in methodology, satellite resolution, and the area being scanned can explain the differing farm fire figures.

Monday was also the first day this November when visibility improved to beyond 3,000 metres in Palam, said officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees Celsius (°C) on Monday – one degree above normal, while the minimum was recorded at 11.4°C, normal for this time of the year

The move was questioned by experts who pointed out that construction is a major contributor to pollution, while keeping students out of schools after in-person classes barely resumed following a near 20-month shutdown will further the significant losses in learning for children.

Delhi’s environment minister Gopal Rai on Monday said a ban on construction and demolition activities has been lifted as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading improved to the “poor” category

The celebrations will begin with a nagar kirtan at Singhu border on Sunday, with the numbers expected to treble in the next few days, and the groups serving langar have already begun to load up on stock.

The farm fire analysis is based on a study of VIIRS-SNP satellite data by a NASA scientist, who said that while daily numbers have begun to reduce, it is unclear whether the 2016 record will remain unbroken – and if fires continue, the threat of bad air continues to loom over Delhi.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had ordered that the trucks of trucks into the Capital be barred to control hazardous levels of air pollution in the city

The Delhi government’s environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday asked the Central government to clarify the exact contribution of stubble burning to New Delhi’s air pollution

The share of stubble burning could meanwhile drop to around 6% in the next two days

Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 353 (very poor) on Monday, maginally poor from 330 on Sunday. However, it may shift towards the higher end of the very poor range (up to 400), forecasters said

Data has shown that the national capital witnesses spike in air pollution in three periods of the year for which a number of meteorological factors are responsible, besides the local sources of pollution. An explainer

Delhi recorded an average AQI of 330 in the very poor category, down from 437 (severe) recorded on Saturday. According to the CPCB data, AQI on seven of the first 14 days in November was in the severe zone

Experts also cautioned that a smaller window would not necessarily mean fewer fires; in fact, this year’s cumulative fire count could match or even surpass the figures of the past years, an estimation that does not bode well for Delhi

According to experts, though local meteorological conditions largely remained the same, a slight drop in the speed of wind that is bringing stubble emissions to Delhi has led to this slight improvement in the last 24 hours

To be sure, air pollution in Delhi has been at its worst in the first week of November this year, breaching levels not seen since January

Four new locations -- Alipur, ITO, Nehru Nagar and Sonia Vihar -- all recorded at least four ‘severe’ air days, levels exceeding even some of the existing pollution hot spots

The AQI on Tuesday, according to the 4pm health bulletin, was 404, worse than the 390 on Monday.

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 sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas met on Monday, and decided to upgrade the Grap measures from the current steps that were being enforced under the ‘very poor’ air category

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