Joydeep Thakur

Go for night camps, rock climbing in Delhi as Asola sanctuary plans ecotourism

The Wildlife Institute of India has given in principle nod to introduce ecotourism in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. Delhi forest department officials said it could also be linked to the tourism circuit in Delhi.

Sterilisation and not relocation solution to contain monkeys in Delhi, say experts

Wildlife and animal suggest that the only permanent solution to contain the monkey population lies in sterilising the animals and not relocating them. They claimed that relocation has just ended up in ‘shifting’ the problem to newer areas without solving it.

Monkey terror shift from city to Delhi’s fringes

In and around Asola sanctuary, where monkeys were rehabilitated from the city, residents are living under constant fear

How bad roads, traffic jams make you spend one-and-half times extra on fuel

A CSIR-CRRI study finds driving a car on bad and crowded roads is burning a big hole in your pocket in Delhi and its suburbs even as a preliminary estimate puts the wastage on fuel expenses at Rs 960 crore a day across India

Rampant construction, rise in vehicles push Delhi’s dust pollution back to CWG days

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), dust pollution shot up to 261 micrograms per metre cube again last year after a lull of five years, in the capital.

Govt to fix rules for disposing of road dust to curb air pollution in Delhi

The city has more than a dozen mechanical sweepers which keeps the road free of dust. More such vehicles are being procured by both the civic bodies and the PWD. At present the dust collected is mostly taken to the landfill sites and dumped. When the wind blows these particles return to the city

Art of Living did not harm Yamuna: Delhi, UP govt contradict scientific report

A three-member committee of officials from both governments submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal on Friday in which they claimed the site showed no lasting signs of environmental damage, as was reported by a seven-member committee of senior scientists.

Delhi govt submits action plan for restoration of Yamuna floodplains

The three-member committee comprising officials from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh government has suggested an action plan for the rehabilitation of the site where the Art of Living organised the World Culture Festival in March 2016.

‘We’ll die if separated from them’: Delhi’s elephant owners say jumbos are family

Delhi’s all domestic elephants may be shifted to a sanctuary

The city has seven domesticated elephants owned by four people. While six are kept at Sangam Vihar in Wazirabad, one is kept at a JJ cluster in Laxmi Nagar. The state forest department planning to shift them to a sanctuary outside the national capital.

Delhi’s fight against the ‘Mexican colonialist’ tree hits roadblock

Prosopis julifora popularly known as the Vilayti kikar was brought to India from Mexico by the British in the early 20th century. The tree, since then, has infested the Ridge, wiping out the indigenous species and dealing a blow to biodiversity in the area. It is also depleting the ground water table.

A walk, a cake and some songs: Delhi zoo celebrates white tiger Vijay’s birthday

A group of 60 children took part in the birthday celebrations for white tiger Vijay at the Delhi zoo.

More diesel vehicles hit efforts to combat pollution in Delhi

Experts claimed that while the reduction of SO2 has been possible because of a gradual shift to cleaner fuels and shutting down of thermal power plants, the NO2 level is constantly on the rise because of the increase in number of vehicles using diesel.

Ozone pollution rising in Delhi’s air, shows data

A recent analysis of real-time air quality data from monitoring locations of Delhi Pollution Control Committee for the summer months of 2016 and 2017 has revealed that ozone pollution has been worsening progressively

A first for Delhi: Vehicles and location to decide anti-pollution plan

CPCB plans to implement driving cycle in Delhi, which will give an idea as to how much pollution a vehicle is emitting and its fuel consumption. The anti-pollution body will also introduce location-specific pollution management in the national Capital

Feel hotter than usual in Delhi? Blame the rising heat index, say experts

Heat index combines temperature and relative humidity to determine how hot you actually feel. It is a measure of the stress on humans. This rising heat index is already taking a heavy toll on the health of Delhiites both directly and indirectly, doctors have warned.

Expect more Monsoon showers in Delhi today, Met says pleasant week ahead

Delhi usually receives maximum rain in July, August, September but this June was the wettest in over a decade.

NGT imposes nationwide ban on nylon and synthetic manja

The tribunal has ordered all state governments to prohibit manufacturing, selling and purchasing of synthetic manja or nylon threads used for flying kites.

Man tries to open door mid-air on Delhi-Ranchi flight, injures crew in scuffle

The 32-year-old man, identified as Aftab Ahmed, was arrested after the plane landed safely in Ranchi. A few members of the crew and passengers were injured when they tried to stop Ahmed from opening the door.

Want to adopt a tiger? Delhi Zoo to launch scheme soon

It is a scheme where a citizen can choose an animal and ‘adopt’ it after paying a sum fixed by the zoo authorities. The money is usually spent by the zoo to buy food, medicines and to meet other expenses of the animal.

ISRO satellites to keep an eye on land encroachment in Delhi, project to start in 3 months

DDA estimates suggest it owns around 5,000 vacant acres in the city. But around 30% of the land has been encroached upon.

Delhi air quality not ‘good’ in over 500 days, not even when it rained

Air quality index data between 2016 to June 2017, available with the Central Pollution Control Board, revealed that pollution levels in Delhi refused to drop even during the rainy season. Not even in the month of June 2017, when the city received one of the heaviest rains in the last decade.

1713 trees to make way for new exhibition centre at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan

Implementation agency for Pragati Maidan redevelopment has said that they will plant 10 times the trees felled. However, environmentalists have raised concern, saying that around 15 000 trees felled in the Capital in last three years,

Where is the rain? Delhi in ‘sauna-like condition’ after arrival of monsoon

Monsoon hit Delhi on July 2 and in the days that followed though the temperature was around 36.5 degrees Celsius, the relative humidity shot up to 87%. The weather officials have, however, spotted some developments which they hope could bring some rain around July 10.

Night-vision cameras, security teams to save Yamuna banks from encroachment, debris

Though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned dumping of debris and waste in Yamuna and its floodplains, little has changed. DDA has now decided to install 120 CCTV cameras along the river.

Faecal sludge continues to pollute Yamuna despite ban on defecation

Septage has high contents of phosphorus, nitrogen, pathogen, BOD and suspended matter. Experts claimed the DJB’s policy demands that septage should be treated by STPs.

Wettest June in Delhi in last 10 years, but it’s still not monsoon yet

The monsoon has overshot its June 29 date with Delhi and is now expected to arrive by July 2. However, the Capital has been receiving heavy pre-monsoon showers — highest in over a decade for the month of June.

Nothing has changed, Jamia Nagar gripped in fear of dengue, chikungunya this year too

In 2016, though the official figure (according to MCD records) for dengue and chikungunya deaths in Jamia Nagar is less than 10, there were over 70 suspected deaths in this part of south-east Delhi.

Rain dampens Yoga Day celebrations: Low turnout at India Gate, chaos at Lodhi Garden

Rains on Tuesday night threw arrangements for Yoga Day out of gear at India Gate and Lodhi Garden. Carpets at India Gate were soaked in water and the arrangements had to be shifted to the road. At Lodhi Garden there was a shortage of mats.

Mobiles, sunglasses and a ‘lost well’ at the bottom of Delhi’s Purana Qila lake

Labourers engaged in dredging at the dried-up Purana Qila Lake have dup up a well that the archaeologists say is at least 400 years old. Among other things that have been found are over a 100 mobile phones, sunglasses and sandals.