News / Author / Joydeep Thakur

Joydeep Thakur

Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.

Articles by Joydeep Thakur

Odd-even to be implemented in NCR towns too if pollution turns severe, says EPCA

The NCR towns where the odd-even would be introduced are Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Faridabad. Towns like Bhiwadi in Rajasthan would be exempted for the moment, said Narain.

EPCA would not just take into account the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) but would also take a look at how such vehicle rationing measures are implemented in cities like Beijing and Paris.(Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Nov 25, 2017 12:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur and Ritam Halder, New Delhi

GSI planning to study levels of heavy metals in food items, air in Delhi

The GSI’s team in Kolkata had identified diesel exhaust from vehicles as the chief culprit there.

A similar study in Kolkata found that raw food items such as fish, chicken, biscuits, dal, spices sold on the streets contain lead concentrations higher than safe limits.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Nov 21, 2017 02:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAvijit Ghosal and Joydeep Thakur, New Delhi / Kolkata

Delhi air pollution: CPCB asks weatherman to set up smog alert system

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), a measure of particulate matter in the air, hit 486 and the levels stayed in severe category for seven days, forcing closure of schools, ban on entry of trucks and construction activity.

A woman wears a face mask due to smog at Mayur Vihar in New Delhi, on November 8, 2017. Delhi suffered poor air quality for a week at the start of November, triggering a political slugfest over who was responsible.(Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2017 08:24 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur

Delhi pollution: 75,000-litre water sprinkled at ITO fails to make a difference

The ineffectiveness of the exercise raised questions about the Delhi government’s proposal to spray water from helicopters to bring down pollution levels in the city.

The NGT had on Tuesday asked Delhi government to identify one of the most polluted areas in the city and spray water from a height there.(Sonu Mehta/HT FILE)

cities

Updated on Nov 17, 2017 02:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

A tale of three cities: How pollution fight unites Delhi, Beijing and Zabol

Beyond the man-made, Delhi’s pollution is also the result of a quirk of nature – something that the residents of Beijing and Zabol know a thing or two about.

People wear protective masks at Rajpath as pollution level remained severe in the Capital on Sunday.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Nov 13, 2017 09:16 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi/Beijing | ByJoydeep Thakur and Sutirtho Patranobis, New Delhi/beijing

Reconsider decision on hiking parking fees: NGT to govt

“The hike in parking fees will only benefit the contractors and will stress people by encouraging them to park vehicles on the roadside instead,” the NGT said.

cities

Updated on Nov 12, 2017 12:48 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, New Delhi

Delhi air pollution: Govt cancels odd-even after NGT scraps exemptions

Earlier this week, the Delhi government had announced implementation of the odd-even scheme from November 13-17, given the high level of smog in the capital.

Raisina hills is seen enveloped in a thick blanket of smog in New Delhi. As air pollution peaked this week in Delhi, it rose to more than 30 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe level.(AP Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 11, 2017 11:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | BySweta Goswami and Joydeep Thakur

Delhi pollution highlights: Odd-even called off, govt to file review petition with NGT

The National Green Tribunal today gave its nod for the implementation of the Delhi government’s odd-even car rationing scheme for five days from November 13, with certain riders. Here are the live updates.

Heavy traffic jam occured due to the less visibility in Dwarka, New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, November 8, 2017.(Shivam Saxena/ Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Nov 12, 2017 12:04 AM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | BySweta Goswami and Joydeep Thakur

Pollutants from west Asia triggered Delhi’s haze, says Met

Experts from SAFAR, which is maintained by the Union ministry of earth sciences, said that a major portion of the pollutants that triggered the three-day haze had come from west Asian countries like Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Smog engulfs India Gate on Friday morning.(Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Nov 11, 2017 12:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, New Delhi

Delhi air pollution: Haze horror likely to continue today, may clear by Friday

Delhi air pollution triggered scare as the city breathed poison on Wednesday, prompting officials to close schools, halt construction and the entry of trucks.

A view of the steel ''Charkha'', installed at Rajiv Chowk, enveloped by heavy smog in New Delhi on Wednesday.(PTI)

cities

Updated on Nov 09, 2017 07:29 AM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Delhi air pollution peaks as temperature dips to season’s coldest

Officials said the average air quality index (AQI) — the measure of pollutants in the air — shot up to 463, compared to 448 on Tuesday.

Primary sections of schools were closed by the Delhi government on Wednesday.(BURHAAN KINU / HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Nov 08, 2017 12:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Delhi air pollution: Is it smog or fog? Opinions differ

Delhi air pollution hit severe levels on Tuesday, forcing the state government and central authorities to announce a slew of emergency measures to minimise health hazards.

Vehicles ply at a slow pace near Punjabi Bagh due to low visibility caused by air pollution in New Delhi on Tuesday.(PTI)

cities

Updated on Nov 08, 2017 09:53 AM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

What happens to e-waste: Your junked gadgets come back to you as toxic fumes

90% Delhiites don’t know how to dispose of their trash, according to a study. Experts say most people don’t realise the consequence of discarding e-waste, or any trash, in an improper manner.

Discarded gadgets often land up in makeshift workshops, where metal is extracted of them using the crudest methods releasing a range of toxic elements.(HT FILE)

cities

Updated on Nov 02, 2017 11:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

To check e-waste, 243 dealers in Delhi NCR told to take back old electronics

India is one of the biggest producers of e-waste globally, producing about 1.7 million tonnes annually. The NCR produces about 100,000-lakh tonnes of e-waste annually, industry estimates say.

A person disposes of e-waste at a scrap dealer’s place in Noida.(Sunil Ghosh/HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 02, 2017 11:31 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur

Low wind speed to blame for more smoggy days ahead in Delhi

Pollution levels in Delhi have remained high for the last 10 days with PM2.5 level shooting up around 9am and 10am every day.

In the morning, the level of PM2.5 has touched emergency levels (severe plus category) in some pollution monitoring stations like DTU, ITO, Anand Vihar and RK Puram. Pollution level was found to be the least between 5pm and 6pm.(Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 01, 2017 10:47 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRitam Halder & Joydeep Thakur

SC panel to track cyclones in Bay of Bengal to predict pollution in Delhi-NCR

Tropical cyclones that originate in the Bay of Bengal have an indirect bearing on air quality in Delhi, said D Saha,head of the air quality laboratory of Central Pollution Control Board.

cities

Updated on Oct 28, 2017 04:07 PM IST

HIndustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, New Delhi

India vs New Zealand: Pollution cloud hangs over Delhi T20

With Delhi and District Cricket Association not allowed to use diesel-powered generators in the first India vs New Zealand T20I, the state body will have to seek extra power from the state power distribution company.

The Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi will host the first Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand on November 1.(HT Photo)

cricket

Updated on Oct 27, 2017 10:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur/Siddhartha Sharma

Need a whiff of fresh air to breathe in dusty Delhi

Dust pollution is not new in developing cities. But it assumes alarming proportions in the National Capital Region because of the land-locked geographical position, unfavourable meteorological factors and multiple pollution sources in the region and beyond.

Dust from new road construction site at NH-24 near Ghazipur in New Delhi, India, on October 24.(Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 27, 2017 05:23 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur & Ritam Halder, New Delhi

Like Beijing, Delhi residents may get pollution updates on phone from next year

Sending out pollution alerts through newspapers, TV and radio to advise people with respiratory and cardiac ailments to avoid polluted areas and restrict outdoor movement is a part of graded plan.

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2017 12:17 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByRitam Halder and Joydeep Thakur

EPCA proposes to shift 950 buses out of polluted Anand Vihar

Anand Vihar is among the five places that have emerged as pollution hotspots in the National Capital Region, where the Air Quality Index hovers in the ‘very poor’ zone.

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2017 12:14 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur and Ritam Halder, New Delhi

Food ministry’s India Gate event gets exemption from diesel generator ban

The ban on diesel generators was one of the first measures to be implemented as part of the graded response action plan to fight “very poor” and “severe” categories of air pollution.

Thick smog engulfs India Gate in New Delhi.(Arvind Yadav/HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 25, 2017 12:11 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRitam Halder & Joydeep Thakur

How weather conditions are helping Delhi breathe easier this year

Delhi’s air quality transitioned from “severe” to “poor” in three days after Diwali, going from 403 on Friday to 300 on Monday. It took 26 days for the air to get cleaner after Diwali in 2016. Experts predict that the conditions might only get better this week.

A cyclist rides on a street amid smog in New Delhi on October 20, the day after the Diwali festival.(AFP)

cities

Updated on Oct 24, 2017 02:07 PM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

EPCA gets cracking on garbage burning in Delhi, Rs 5,000 fine for polluting air

Garbage burning is one of the major contributors to pollution in Delhi. The city produces nearly 10,000 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, most of which directly lands at already exhausted landfills

cities

Updated on Oct 23, 2017 12:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, Ritam Halder and Vibha Sharma, New Delhi

Six gaseous pollutants may be included in Delhi-NCR’s AQI from next year

As of now, Delhi’s AQI is primarily based on two parameters – PM2.5 and PM10 – that dominate air pollution in the region. On certain days their levels shoot up nine to 10 times above the permissible limits in winter.

cities

Updated on Oct 21, 2017 11:26 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur, New Delhi

Post-Diwali pollution may subside from today, Delhi air to clean up by Sunday

Experts said the city’s pollution levels turned poor not just because of the smoke from crackers and vehicles, but mostly due to the high levels of moisture in the air.

A man wears a mask as smog covers Rajpath after Diwali celebration in New Delhi, on Friday.(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 21, 2017 08:44 AM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

Less pollution this Diwali but Delhi’s air quality has entered severe zone

Although experts said after the Supreme Court order there was a substantial decline in bursting of firecrackers compared to last Diwali, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research insisted that prevalent pollution levels give no such indication.

A child protects his face amid heavy smog due to bursting of firecrackers despite the ban imposed by the Supreme Court to control the air pollution following Diwali celebrations in New Delhi on Thursday.(Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 20, 2017 11:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur / Ritam Halder

Diesel genset banned, Badarpur thermal power plant shut as Delhi air turns ‘very poor’

Delhi has enforced the Graded Response Action Plan to control air pollution this season. Parking fee may be increased by four times and polluting industries can be shut down if Delhi’s air quality degrades from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ in coming days

Ten thousand pollution masks (N95) were distributed among Delhi Traffic Police personnel to minimise the impact of toxic air at Traffic Police Headquarters, in Pusa, New Delhi on Tuesday.(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 18, 2017 10:58 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRitam Halder and Joydeep Thakur

Delhi finally has an action plan to combat air pollution, here’s how you can help

The Graded Response Action Plan designed to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR comes into force today. Different agencies have their roles carved out but individuals can chip in too

A Delhi traffic policeman wearing mask in Delhi during the persistent smog of November 2016.(Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 17, 2017 11:13 AM IST

HIndustan Times, New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur & Ritam Halder

Best Diwali air this year in Delhi since 2013? Cracker curb may make it possible

The air quality in Delhi this year will be directly proportional to firecrackers burst and vehicular emissions within city limits.

Last year’s festive season triggered the worst smog in 17 years, forcing the Delhi government to shut down schools and construction sites.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 17, 2017 10:44 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur and Ritam Halder

Delhi morning haze brings back memories of 2016, but it’s not smog yet

Officials at Met department said Delhi has been witnessing mist over past few days. They clarified that it is not smog and is likely to go away as the temperatures rise during the day.

In November 2016, Delhi saw its worst spell of smog in 17 years.(Raj K Raj/HT FILE)

cities

Updated on Oct 12, 2017 10:39 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur

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Joydeep Thakur

Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.

The NCR towns where the odd-even would be introduced are Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Faridabad. Towns like Bhiwadi in Rajasthan would be exempted for the moment, said Narain.

The GSI’s team in Kolkata had identified diesel exhaust from vehicles as the chief culprit there.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), a measure of particulate matter in the air, hit 486 and the levels stayed in severe category for seven days, forcing closure of schools, ban on entry of trucks and construction activity.

The ineffectiveness of the exercise raised questions about the Delhi government’s proposal to spray water from helicopters to bring down pollution levels in the city.

Beyond the man-made, Delhi’s pollution is also the result of a quirk of nature – something that the residents of Beijing and Zabol know a thing or two about.

“The hike in parking fees will only benefit the contractors and will stress people by encouraging them to park vehicles on the roadside instead,” the NGT said.

Earlier this week, the Delhi government had announced implementation of the odd-even scheme from November 13-17, given the high level of smog in the capital.

The National Green Tribunal today gave its nod for the implementation of the Delhi government’s odd-even car rationing scheme for five days from November 13, with certain riders. Here are the live updates.

Experts from SAFAR, which is maintained by the Union ministry of earth sciences, said that a major portion of the pollutants that triggered the three-day haze had come from west Asian countries like Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Delhi air pollution triggered scare as the city breathed poison on Wednesday, prompting officials to close schools, halt construction and the entry of trucks.

Officials said the average air quality index (AQI) — the measure of pollutants in the air — shot up to 463, compared to 448 on Tuesday.

Delhi air pollution hit severe levels on Tuesday, forcing the state government and central authorities to announce a slew of emergency measures to minimise health hazards.

90% Delhiites don’t know how to dispose of their trash, according to a study. Experts say most people don’t realise the consequence of discarding e-waste, or any trash, in an improper manner.

India is one of the biggest producers of e-waste globally, producing about 1.7 million tonnes annually. The NCR produces about 100,000-lakh tonnes of e-waste annually, industry estimates say.

Pollution levels in Delhi have remained high for the last 10 days with PM2.5 level shooting up around 9am and 10am every day.

Tropical cyclones that originate in the Bay of Bengal have an indirect bearing on air quality in Delhi, said D Saha,head of the air quality laboratory of Central Pollution Control Board.

With Delhi and District Cricket Association not allowed to use diesel-powered generators in the first India vs New Zealand T20I, the state body will have to seek extra power from the state power distribution company.

Dust pollution is not new in developing cities. But it assumes alarming proportions in the National Capital Region because of the land-locked geographical position, unfavourable meteorological factors and multiple pollution sources in the region and beyond.

Sending out pollution alerts through newspapers, TV and radio to advise people with respiratory and cardiac ailments to avoid polluted areas and restrict outdoor movement is a part of graded plan.

Anand Vihar is among the five places that have emerged as pollution hotspots in the National Capital Region, where the Air Quality Index hovers in the ‘very poor’ zone.

The ban on diesel generators was one of the first measures to be implemented as part of the graded response action plan to fight “very poor” and “severe” categories of air pollution.

Delhi’s air quality transitioned from “severe” to “poor” in three days after Diwali, going from 403 on Friday to 300 on Monday. It took 26 days for the air to get cleaner after Diwali in 2016. Experts predict that the conditions might only get better this week.

Garbage burning is one of the major contributors to pollution in Delhi. The city produces nearly 10,000 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, most of which directly lands at already exhausted landfills

As of now, Delhi’s AQI is primarily based on two parameters – PM2.5 and PM10 – that dominate air pollution in the region. On certain days their levels shoot up nine to 10 times above the permissible limits in winter.

Experts said the city’s pollution levels turned poor not just because of the smoke from crackers and vehicles, but mostly due to the high levels of moisture in the air.

Although experts said after the Supreme Court order there was a substantial decline in bursting of firecrackers compared to last Diwali, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research insisted that prevalent pollution levels give no such indication.

Delhi has enforced the Graded Response Action Plan to control air pollution this season. Parking fee may be increased by four times and polluting industries can be shut down if Delhi’s air quality degrades from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ in coming days

The Graded Response Action Plan designed to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR comes into force today. Different agencies have their roles carved out but individuals can chip in too

The air quality in Delhi this year will be directly proportional to firecrackers burst and vehicular emissions within city limits.

Officials at Met department said Delhi has been witnessing mist over past few days. They clarified that it is not smog and is likely to go away as the temperatures rise during the day.

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