Delhi Air Quality Plummets To 'Very Poor' Category

Home

National

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Air Quality Index (AQI) plummeted to the 'very poor' category in the national capital on Monday.

New Delhi, Oct 21: The Air Quality Index (AQI) plummeted to the 'very poor' category in the national capital on Monday.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the 24-hour average AQI at 7:15 a.m. in Delhi was recorded at 307, which falls in the 'very poor' category.

In most of the areas of the national capital, the AQI levels remained in the 'very poor' category with Anand Vihar being worst at 367.

The AQI in Alipur was recorded at 314, in Ashok Vihar it was 331, Aya Nagar (316), Bawana (358), Burari Crossing (352), Dwarka Sector 8 (324), Jahangirpuri (345), Major Dhyanchand Stadium (308), Mandir Marg (306), Mundka (332), Narela (321), Nehru Nagar (329), North Camp DU (313), Patparganj (308), Punjabi Bagh (330), RK Puram (343), Rohini (344), Shadipur (314), Wazirpur (350), Vivek Vihar (320), Sonia Vihar (335), and at Siri Fort, the AQI levels were at 306.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

The Delhi government has recently formed a coordination committee to address rising pollution levels at 13 hotspots in the national capital.

The committee reportedly started its on-ground work on Saturday, identifying local pollution sources in these critical areas. The 13 pollution hotspots are -- Narela, Bawana, Mundka, Wazirpur, Rohini, RK Puram, Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Mayapuri, and Dwarka Sector 8.

Speaking to IANS, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed concern over the health risks posed by the increasing pollution and emphasised the need to address the local sources of pollution urgently.

Delhi government has already banned the production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers till January 1, 2025. The measure is part of the city government's effort to curb rising air pollution levels during the winter season.

Delhi is one of the world's most polluted cities throughout the year. But its air turns toxic especially in winter due to several factors, including burning crop remains, low wind speed and bursting of firecrackers during festivals.

--IANS

Sarfaraz's Returns With The Bat Even More Prodigious Than His Waistline: Gavaskar

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Oct 21: Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar lauded Sarfaraz Khan for his attacking 150 in the recent first Test against New Zealand, adding that his batting returns were even more remarkable than his waistline.

After bagging a duck in the first innings, where India were bowled out for 46, Sarfaraz was at the forefront of India’s second innings total of 462 through an attacking 150 – his maiden Test hundred - laced with 18 fours and three sixes.

He wowed cricket fans at M Chinnaswamy Stadium through his cheeky and unorthodox shots, especially through the square region in the off-side. "Sarfaraz Khan has been denied a place in the Indian team for some years now, despite scoring runs by the hundreds in domestic cricket.

"This was largely because those in a position to make decisions believed he didn’t have the slim waist they deemed necessary for international cricket. Sarfaraz’s returns on the field with the bat were even more prodigious than his waistline. Sadly, Indian cricket has had too many decision-makers with ideas that are hard to fathom," wrote Gavaskar in his column for Sportstar on Monday.

He also cited the example of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant performing exceedingly well in Tests – like hitting a fine 99 in Bengaluru and sharing a crucial 177-run stand with Sarfaraz in the second innings – despite not boasting of a super slim waistline.

"Rishabh Pant is another player who doesn’t possess the slim waist that these fitness purists seem to want, but what an impact player he is. Let’s not forget that he also keeps wickets all day, which not only requires getting up and down for around six hours of play but also running to the stumps to gather the throws.”

"So, please discard these yoyo-yoyo tests and instead assess how strong a player is mentally. That will be a true indicator of a player’s fitness. If a player can bat the whole day or bowl 20 overs in a day, he is match-fit, regardless of how slim or not his waist is."

Talking of India’s eight-wicket defeat in Bengaluru, Gavaskar wondered if the Rohit Sharma-led side not being able to deal with bounce could send them worried ahead of an all-important trip to Australia later this year.

"That their heroics went in vain, as the batters who followed them simply didn’t have the technique or temperament to deal with a pitch that was different from the low-bounce ones where they dominate, only added to the frustration.

"If anything, the way the Indian batting has struggled in Chennai — where again there was some bounce — and now in Bengaluru, does make one anxious about what lies in store in Australia.

"Even the flattest of pitches there have more bounce than the usual Indian surfaces. That said, the Kookaburra ball should be an ally of the batters, as once a dozen overs or so have passed, the seam movement is almost negligible and batting becomes a lot easier," he concluded. (IANS)

Read More Sports News

Karan Johar Sells 50 pc Stake In Dharma Productions To Adar Poonawalla

by Utkalika Mohanty

Mumbai, Oct 21: Since last few days speculations were doing rounds that Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is in loss and he is looking to sell some of his stakes to Mukesh Ambani led Reliance industries.

However it’s not Reliance but Adar Poonawala led Serene Productions that acquired a fifty percent stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma. On Monday, 21st October Karan Johar’s Dharma and Adar Poonawalla’s Serene Entertainment released a joint statement stating “Adar Poonawalla led Serene Productions today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to invest INR 1,000 crore into Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment (collectively, “Dharma”), India’s leading production house. Through this investment, Serene Productions will hold a 50% stake in Dharma, with Karan Johar retaining the remaining 50% ownership. Karan Johar as the Executive Chairman will spearhead the company's creative vision, while Apoorva Mehta, in his role as the Chief Executive Officer, will work with Karan in steering the strategic direction and overseeing the operational excellence of the organization. Speaking about the same, Adar Poonawalla, said, "I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation, along with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in the years to come."

Commenting on the partnership, Karan Johar, Executive Chairman of Dharma, stated, "From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I've dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we're poised to elevate Dharma's legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies.”

Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma, said, "Over the years, I've witnessed Dharma's transformation into a multi-faceted content powerhouse. This partnership with Adar realizes our vision and marks a new era where cinema, streaming, and global content converge. It enables us to explore new avenues in content creation and distribution, elevating the Indian entertainment ecosystem. More importantly, this investment allows us to take bigger creative steps."

IANS

Read Entertainment News

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Pays Tribute To Police Personnel On Police Commemoration Day

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday paid rich tribute to police personnel on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day.

Greetings to our police force on #PoliceCommemorationDay.

Thank our police personnel for their untiring efforts in protecting life and liberty as well as enforcing law and order. Also, salute the bravehearts who have sacrificed their life in the line of duty. pic.twitter.com/9UVTnHfAe0 — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 21, 2024

In a social media post, Pradhan thanked the police personnel for their untiring efforts in protecting life and liberty as well as enforcing law and order across the country.