<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 22nd National Youth Festival&nbsp;through video conference today.</p>

<p>The festival will commence on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and will go on from 12 January until 16 January.</p>

<p>The festival, organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs &amp; Sports, the government of India in collaboration with the state government of Uttar Pradesh will be held at Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Greater Noida.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The theme of this year&#39;s festival is &#39;Sankalp Se Siddhi&#39;, set with the aim to capitalise on the demographic dividend of young India, to capture the vibrancy and fresh perspective of youth and to pledge to accomplish the Goal of New India.</p>

<p>The function will see the participation of around 5,000 students, including volunteers from National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, from across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will be co-presided by &nbsp;Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister for State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore.</p>

<p>The aim of the festival is to give a platform to the young generation for opportunities to showcase their talent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The festival also provides opportunities for the youngsters to interact with each other, talk about their social and cultural uniqueness. This blend of diverse socio-cultural milieu creates &#39;Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat&#39;.</p>

<p>The first ever NYF was held in Bhopal in 1995. This is the first time that the NYF is being organised in National Capital Region.</p>

<p>The venue of the NYF was changed nine days back from Jaipur to NCR due to the forthcoming bypolls in Alwar and Ajmer on January 29 for two Lok Sabha seats that fell vacant due to the untimely death of their representatives.</p>


The theme of this year's festival is 'Sankalp Se Siddhi', to capitalise on the demographic dividend of young India, to capture the vibrancy and fresh perspective of youth and to pledge to accomplish the Goal of New India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 22nd National Youth Festival through video conference today. The festival will commence on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and will go on from 12 January until 16 January. The festival, organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the government of India in collaboration with the state government of Uttar Pradesh will be held at Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Greater Noida. The theme of this year's festival is 'Sankalp Se Siddhi', set with the aim to capitalise on the demographic dividend of young India, to capture the vibrancy and fresh perspective of youth and to pledge to accomplish the Goal of New India. The function will see the participation of around 5,000 students, including volunteers from National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, from across the country. It will be co-presided by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister for State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore. The aim of the festival is to give a platform to the young generation for opportunities to showcase their talent. The festival also provides opportunities for the youngsters to interact with each other, talk about their social and cultural uniqueness. This blend of diverse socio-cultural milieu creates 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'. The first ever NYF was held in Bhopal in 1995. This is the first time that the NYF is being organised in National Capital Region. The venue of the NYF was changed nine days back from Jaipur to NCR due to the forthcoming bypolls in Alwar and Ajmer on January 29 for two Lok Sabha seats that fell vacant due to the untimely death of their representatives.

PM Modi to inaugurate National Youth Festival on Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary

<p>Cold wave conditions continued in North&nbsp;India on Thursday as the death toll rose to 143.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several parts of North India, as well as NCR, witnessed heavy fog and a dip in temperature on Thursday leading to low visibility.</p>

<p>Around 22 trains were cancelled, nine reschedules and 30 were delayed on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Flights were also grounded as visibility levels dropped to below 100 metres.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&quot;There will be mist or shallow fog in the morning,&quot; an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many places in Jammu and Kashmir are facing sub-zero temperatures. The Dal Lake in Srinagar city froze at many places.</p>

<p>Kargil in Ladakh recorded bone-chilling night temperature at minus 23.6 degree Celsius, lowest in Jammu and Kashmir this season.</p>

<p>Leh was the second coldest town in the state with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 17.4 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>Several reports claimed people dying of cold in India with D<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-100-people-die-due-to-the-harsh-cold-in-north-india-29071" target="_blank">elhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board</a> denying&nbsp;reports of deaths in the capital saying that &quot;such deaths happen in summer also and it would be unfair to connect it with cold&quot;.</p>

<p>(with inputs from ANI)</p>


Several parts of North India, as well as NCR, witnessed heavy fog and a dip in temperature on Thursday leading to low visibility

Cold wave conditions continued in North India on Thursday as the death toll rose to 143. Several parts of North India, as well as NCR, witnessed heavy fog and a dip in temperature on Thursday leading to low visibility. Around 22 trains were cancelled, nine reschedules and 30 were delayed on Thursday. Flights were also grounded as visibility levels dropped to below 100 metres. "There will be mist or shallow fog in the morning," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said on Wednesday. Many places in Jammu and Kashmir are facing sub-zero temperatures. The Dal Lake in Srinagar city froze at many places. Kargil in Ladakh recorded bone-chilling night temperature at minus 23.6 degree Celsius, lowest in Jammu and Kashmir this season. Leh was the second coldest town in the state with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 17.4 degrees Celsius. Several reports claimed people dying of cold in India with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board denying reports of deaths in the capital saying that "such deaths happen in summer also and it would be unfair to connect it with cold". (with inputs from ANI)

Death toll rises to 143 as cold wave continues in North India

<p>Several environmental experts on Saturday issued a warning against the high level&nbsp;of pollution in New Delhi and adjoining region&nbsp;and said that&nbsp;if the pollution level continues to remain at this level, the citizens&nbsp;will soon have to walk around with oxygen cylinders on their backs.</p>

<p>A person would need at least five oxygen cylinders a day, they&nbsp;warned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The warning was issued after the national capital&#39;s air became the cause of several ailments, including premature birth, reducing lung immunity, allergies or aggravation of existing allergies, strokes, heart and lung disease, cancer and other acute respiratory diseases, as per media reports.</p>

<p>Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that about 92 per cent of the world&#39;s population, including in India, lives in areas where air quality is below acceptable standards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It further said that 88 per cent of premature deaths occur in low and middle-income countries where air pollution is high and escalating.</p>

<p>Air pollution in Delhi-NCR occurs due to a complex mix of pollution from human activities such as vehicle emissions, industry, construction, residential fuel burning, dust and sea salt, according to the website delhiair.org.</p>

<p>The NCR generates 10,000 tons per day of municipal solid waste, much of which is eventually burned, and thus, adding particulate pollution to the air.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, on Friday, the Union Environment Ministry gave a week&#39;s time to agencies to respond whether deadlines listed in a plan to clean Delhi&#39;s air by a Supreme Court-monitored panel suits them or not.</p>

<p>The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has also come out with several recommendations in the &#39;Comprehensive Action Plan for Air Pollution&#39;, which was submitted in the apex court last month.&nbsp;</p>


The warning was issued after Delhi's air became the cause of several ailments

Several environmental experts on Saturday issued a warning against the high level of pollution in New Delhi and adjoining region and said that if the pollution level continues to remain at this level, the citizens will soon have to walk around with oxygen cylinders on their backs. A person would need at least five oxygen cylinders a day, they warned. The warning was issued after the national capital's air became the cause of several ailments, including premature birth, reducing lung immunity, allergies or aggravation of existing allergies, strokes, heart and lung disease, cancer and other acute respiratory diseases, as per media reports. Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that about 92 per cent of the world's population, including in India, lives in areas where air quality is below acceptable standards. It further said that 88 per cent of premature deaths occur in low and middle-income countries where air pollution is high and escalating. Air pollution in Delhi-NCR occurs due to a complex mix of pollution from human activities such as vehicle emissions, industry, construction, residential fuel burning, dust and sea salt, according to the website delhiair.org. The NCR generates 10,000 tons per day of municipal solid waste, much of which is eventually burned, and thus, adding particulate pollution to the air. Meanwhile, on Friday, the Union Environment Ministry gave a week's time to agencies to respond whether deadlines listed in a plan to clean Delhi's air by a Supreme Court-monitored panel suits them or not. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has also come out with several recommendations in the 'Comprehensive Action Plan for Air Pollution', which was submitted in the apex court last month.

Soon Delhiites will need 5 oxygen cylinders a day to survive: Experts

<p>Coordinated action to combat stubble burning, commissioning studies and launch of a hotline and an app to report violations are some of the measures in the 12-point draft plan formulated by a high-level task force to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.</p>

<p>The draft action plan also calls for formulating a journey planner app which integrates the Metro, the DIMTS and the DTC services and integrated ticketing across the DTC, cluster and metro within six months.</p>

<p>The high-level task force headed by the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formulated the draft Air Action Plan ? Abatement of Air Pollution in the Delhi NCR and has invited suggestions in 15 days to make it more &quot;effective and practical&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The action plan lists key actions that the task force will monitor. It is recognised that the agencies responsible for the various determinants of air quality will take a number of other steps based on their assessment of need.</p>

<p>&quot;The secretary, MoEF will be responsible for overall coordination of the action agenda,&quot; said the draft which has been put up on the Environment Ministrys website.</p>

<p>The draft proposes coordinated action to combat stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and also monitor enforcement measures to reduce stubble burning.</p>

<p>It also calls for implementing rollout of a plan for properly disposing of crop stubble and ensuring that independent data on stubble burning is available in real time in collaboration with department of science and technology among others.</p>

<p>The plan says that in collaboration with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), it should be ensured that the Delhi-NCR has an adequate network of air quality monitoring stations.</p>

<p>&quot;Commission and validate source attribution studies for the NCR (annually). Set up an anti-pollution helpline in the NCR districts to register complaints of specific violations.</p>

<p>&quot;A pollution app should also be prepared wherein citizens can take a picture of the violation and upload it for quick remedial action,&quot; the plan said.</p>

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<p>The deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR means that babies in the region are inhaling a cigarette the moment they are born. (WION Web Team)</p>
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<p>For power plants in the NCR region, it calls for NOx curtailment measures in a time-bound manner by the NTPC and other operators and asks the Environment Ministry to develop a Dashboard of all the Red Category polluting units in the NCR.</p>

<p>Each of these units should install a certified pollution meter within their premises, it said.</p>

<p>&quot;Strict action should be taken regarding brick kilns operating in the NCR, especially in areas like Bagpat (UP), Jhajjar (Haryana) without environmental clearance. Enforce all brick kilns to migrate to zig-zag technology,&quot; the draft said.</p>

<p>Noting that mechanised road sweeping is about 15 per cent in Delhi, the draft plan also says that it should be increased to at least 40 per cent in the next four months.</p>

<p>It also asks the Delhi PWD, the Irrigation Department and the MCDs to take up green paving of central verges, roadside berms, sides of drains, over the next one year with monitorable targets.</p>

<p>It has asked the corporations in Delhi to reduce dust and ensure that SoPs are followed at construction sites in terms of curtaining and sprinkling water among other measures.</p>

<p>The draft also asks for procurement of additional buses and improvement of last mile connectivity while increasing the number of metro coaches.</p>

<p>&quot;Ensure that non-destined trucks do not enter Delhi. Ensure compliance of the toll and municipal charges for entering of trucks in Delhi,&quot; the draft said.</p>

<p>The draft also asks divisional commissioners to assess the management of municipal solid waste in their jurisdictions and within 15 days, prepare a plan to ensure 100 per cent collection and processing.</p>

<p>&quot;The plan must have monitorable timelines and an independent verification mechanism. Steps will be taken to combat road dust and dust arising from construction activities, broadly following the model set by Delhi,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>It also asks for completion of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways within target dates.</p>

<p>&quot;Encouraging electric vehicles and promoting shared and connected mobility. Policy support to encourage electric vehicles, prioritising the use of EVs for public transport and promoting shared and connected mobility.</p>

<p>&quot;In collaboration with the traffic police, identify choke points and take up projects to reduce congestion at these points. Similar exercise may be done in respect of Meerut, Rohtak and Gurugram divisions,&quot; the draft says.</p>

<p>In the draft, the MCDs have also been asked to increase decentralised processing of bio-degradable waste and to fill the gap between the waste collected and processed.</p>

<p>&quot;An independent verification mechanism should be set up to check whether 100 per cent solid waste is actually being collected--with specific focus on poor communities such as slums and JJ clusters,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>The draft also calls for steps to be taken to ensure that no fires break out at sanitary landfills among others.</p>


The draft action plan also calls for formulating a journey planner app which integrates the Metro, the DIMTS and the DTC services

Coordinated action to combat stubble burning, commissioning studies and launch of a hotline and an app to report violations are some of the measures in the 12-point draft plan formulated by a high-level task force to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. The draft action plan also calls for formulating a journey planner app which integrates the Metro, the DIMTS and the DTC services and integrated ticketing across the DTC, cluster and metro within six months. The high-level task force headed by the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formulated the draft Air Action Plan ? Abatement of Air Pollution in the Delhi NCR and has invited suggestions in 15 days to make it more "effective and practical". "The action plan lists key actions that the task force will monitor. It is recognised that the agencies responsible for the various determinants of air quality will take a number of other steps based on their assessment of need. "The secretary, MoEF will be responsible for overall coordination of the action agenda," said the draft which has been put up on the Environment Ministrys website. The draft proposes coordinated action to combat stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and also monitor enforcement measures to reduce stubble burning. It also calls for implementing rollout of a plan for properly disposing of crop stubble and ensuring that independent data on stubble burning is available in real time in collaboration with department of science and technology among others. The plan says that in collaboration with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), it should be ensured that the Delhi-NCR has an adequate network of air quality monitoring stations. "Commission and validate source attribution studies for the NCR (annually). Set up an anti-pollution helpline in the NCR districts to register complaints of specific violations. "A pollution app should also be prepared wherein citizens can take a picture of the violation and upload it for quick remedial action," the plan said. The deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR means that babies in the region are inhaling a cigarette the moment they are born. (WION Web Team) × For power plants in the NCR region, it calls for NOx curtailment measures in a time-bound manner by the NTPC and other operators and asks the Environment Ministry to develop a Dashboard of all the Red Category polluting units in the NCR. Each of these units should install a certified pollution meter within their premises, it said. "Strict action should be taken regarding brick kilns operating in the NCR, especially in areas like Bagpat (UP), Jhajjar (Haryana) without environmental clearance. Enforce all brick kilns to migrate to zig-zag technology," the draft said. Noting that mechanised road sweeping is about 15 per cent in Delhi, the draft plan also says that it should be increased to at least 40 per cent in the next four months. It also asks the Delhi PWD, the Irrigation Department and the MCDs to take up green paving of central verges, roadside berms, sides of drains, over the next one year with monitorable targets. It has asked the corporations in Delhi to reduce dust and ensure that SoPs are followed at construction sites in terms of curtaining and sprinkling water among other measures. The draft also asks for procurement of additional buses and improvement of last mile connectivity while increasing the number of metro coaches. "Ensure that non-destined trucks do not enter Delhi. Ensure compliance of the toll and municipal charges for entering of trucks in Delhi," the draft said. The draft also asks divisional commissioners to assess the management of municipal solid waste in their jurisdictions and within 15 days, prepare a plan to ensure 100 per cent collection and processing. "The plan must have monitorable timelines and an independent verification mechanism. Steps will be taken to combat road dust and dust arising from construction activities, broadly following the model set by Delhi," it said. It also asks for completion of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways within target dates. "Encouraging electric vehicles and promoting shared and connected mobility. Policy support to encourage electric vehicles, prioritising the use of EVs for public transport and promoting shared and connected mobility. "In collaboration with the traffic police, identify choke points and take up projects to reduce congestion at these points. Similar exercise may be done in respect of Meerut, Rohtak and Gurugram divisions," the draft says. In the draft, the MCDs have also been asked to increase decentralised processing of bio-degradable waste and to fill the gap between the waste collected and processed. "An independent verification mechanism should be set up to check whether 100 per cent solid waste is actually being collected--with specific focus on poor communities such as slums and JJ clusters," it said. The draft also calls for steps to be taken to ensure that no fires break out at sanitary landfills among others.

12-point draft plan formulated to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR

<p>Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi, NCR on Wednesday evening.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLASH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLASH</a>: Strong earthquake tremors felt in Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/6VEVzxYYfc">pic.twitter.com/6VEVzxYYfc</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/938428259271720961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Indian Metrological Department said an earthquake measuring&nbsp;5.5 on the Richter scale had&nbsp;hit Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">People evacuated their buildings after earthquake tremors: Visuals from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dehradun?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dehradun</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uttarakhand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uttarakhand</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mago15Io6W">pic.twitter.com/Mago15Io6W</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/938437566834999296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Several people in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh were evacuated after earthquake tremors were felt in the region.</p>

<p>There were no immediate report of any casualties.</p>


Earthquake in Delhi NCR occurred on Wednesday

Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi, NCR on Wednesday evening. #FLASH: Strong earthquake tremors felt in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/6VEVzxYYfc — ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2017 × The Indian Metrological Department said an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale had hit Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. People evacuated their buildings after earthquake tremors: Visuals from #Dehradun #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/Mago15Io6W — ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2017 × Several people in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh were evacuated after earthquake tremors were felt in the region. There were no immediate report of any casualties.

5.5-magnitude earthquake hits Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand

<p>Delhi Metro lost over three lakh commuters a day after a steep fare hike came into effect on October 10, an RTI query has revealed.</p>

<p>The metro&#39;s daily average ridership came down to 24.2 lakh in October from 27.4 lakh in September, translating to a fall of around 11 per cent.</p>

<p>The Blue Line, considered the metro&#39;s busiest, lost over 30 lakh commuters, according to data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in response to an RTI query by a PTI correspondent.</p>

<p>The 50-km corridor connects Dwarka to Noida. The metro currently has a 218-km network across Delhi-NCR.</p>

<p>The fall, in terms of absolute numbers, was over 19 lakh on the Yellow Line, another busy corridor which connects Gurgaon to north Delhi&#39;s Samaypur Badli, DMRC said.</p>

<p>Ridership on the Violet Line, which connects ITO to Faridabad, plunged by 11.9 lakh in October. The number of riders on the Red Line, from Dilshad Garden to Rithala, came down by 7.5 lakh.</p>

<p>Ridership has come down several notches below the numbers observed in recent years, bucking a trend of rising on the back of the launch of newer sections.</p>

<p>In fact, in October 2016, the metro&#39;s daily average ridership was also 27.2 lakh, despite a comparatively shorter operational route.&nbsp;On October 10, DMRC effected the fare hike, leading to a rise of around Rs 10 for nearly every distance slab. This came barely five months of another hike of up to 100 per cent.</p>

<p>After the first phase of the hike in May, the metro lost nearly 1.5 lakh passengers per day in June.</p>

<p>The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has mounted a stiff opposition to the hike, leading to a confrontation with the Centre.</p>

<p>DMRC and Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri supported the move saying it was essential to maintain metro&#39;s financial as well as operational health.</p>

<p>He rejected Kejriwal&#39;s opposition, saying the Centre was in no position to disregard the recommendations of a Fare Fixation Committee which had drawn up the revised fare list.</p>

<p>The revised fare structure is: up to 2 km - Rs 10, 2 to 5 km - Rs 20, 5 to 12 km - Rs 30, 12 to 21 km - Rs 40, 21 to 32 km - Rs 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km - Rs 60.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Delhi Metro lost over three lakh commuters a day after a steep fare hike came into effect on October 10, an RTI query has revealed

Delhi Metro lost over three lakh commuters a day after a steep fare hike came into effect on October 10, an RTI query has revealed. The metro's daily average ridership came down to 24.2 lakh in October from 27.4 lakh in September, translating to a fall of around 11 per cent. The Blue Line, considered the metro's busiest, lost over 30 lakh commuters, according to data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in response to an RTI query by a PTI correspondent. The 50-km corridor connects Dwarka to Noida. The metro currently has a 218-km network across Delhi-NCR. The fall, in terms of absolute numbers, was over 19 lakh on the Yellow Line, another busy corridor which connects Gurgaon to north Delhi's Samaypur Badli, DMRC said. Ridership on the Violet Line, which connects ITO to Faridabad, plunged by 11.9 lakh in October. The number of riders on the Red Line, from Dilshad Garden to Rithala, came down by 7.5 lakh. Ridership has come down several notches below the numbers observed in recent years, bucking a trend of rising on the back of the launch of newer sections. In fact, in October 2016, the metro's daily average ridership was also 27.2 lakh, despite a comparatively shorter operational route. On October 10, DMRC effected the fare hike, leading to a rise of around Rs 10 for nearly every distance slab. This came barely five months of another hike of up to 100 per cent. After the first phase of the hike in May, the metro lost nearly 1.5 lakh passengers per day in June. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has mounted a stiff opposition to the hike, leading to a confrontation with the Centre. DMRC and Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri supported the move saying it was essential to maintain metro's financial as well as operational health. He rejected Kejriwal's opposition, saying the Centre was in no position to disregard the recommendations of a Fare Fixation Committee which had drawn up the revised fare list. The revised fare structure is: up to 2 km - Rs 10, 2 to 5 km - Rs 20, 5 to 12 km - Rs 30, 12 to 21 km - Rs 40, 21 to 32 km - Rs 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km - Rs 60.

Delhi Metro witnesses steep fall in commuters after fare hike

<p>The Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel will be supplied to the national capital by three oil PSUs from their refineries at Mathura, Bina and Bhatinda from April to help it fight the alarming levels of air pollution.</p>

<p>&quot;We will be able to meet the requirement of Delhi from April 1,&quot; IOC Chairman Sanjiv Singh said here today.</p>

<p>&quot;We will have to tweak the fuel production slate to produce BS-VI (equivalent to fuel meeting Euro-VI emission norm), he added.</p>

<p>The nation&#39;s biggest oil firm, IOC will source the fuel from its Mathura refinery, while Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) will do so from its joint venture refinery at Bhatinda. Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) supply the fuel from its Bina refinery.</p>

<p>&quot;Meeting Delhi&#39;s requirement of BS-VI grade petrol and diesel will not be a problem,&quot; Singh said.</p>

<p>He added however that meeting the requirement of the National Capital Region (NCR) will be a challenge as it consumes about 10 per cent of the nation&#39;s fuel.</p>

<p>India had in 2015 decided to leapfrog to Euro-VI emission norm compliant petrol and diesel from April 2020, from the Euro-IV grade at present.</p>

<p>While the deadline for the rest of the country stands, for Delhi, which is choking on thick toxic smog, the deadline for introduction of BS-VI - equivalent to Euro-VI grade, was last week preponed to April 2018.</p>

<p>Euro-VI grade fuel contains 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur as against 50 ppm in Euro-IV fuels.</p>

<p>Delhi consumed 906,000 tonne petrol and 1.26 million tonne diesel in 2016-17, Singh said.</p>

<p>Oil firms have been asked to examine the possibility of the introduction of BS-VI auto fuels in the entire NCR, which includes adjoining cities of Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad, from April 1, 2019.</p>

<p>In all likelihood, according to some industry players, supplies in the NCR may not begin by 2019.</p>

<p>The BS-IV emission norm was introduced across the country from April 1, 2017.</p>

<p>Oil refineries will need to invest Rs 28,000 crore in upgrading petrol and diesel quality to meet cleaner fuel specifications by 2020.</p>

<p>According to IOC, for petrol engines, one of the most critical specification is Research Octane No. (RON), which has improved from 88 in BS-II to 91. It is at par with regular 91 octane gasoline (petrol) required for Euro-VI emission norms.</p>

<p>Sulphur specification for petrol and diesel will be reduced 50 times for a level of 500 ppm for BS-II fuel to 10 ppm in BS-VI.</p>

<p>Previously, the fuels meeting Euro-IV or Bharat Stage BS-IV specifications were to be supplied throughout the country by April 2017 and BS-V or Euro-V grade fuel by April 1, 2020.</p>

<p>But now the government plans to switch over directly from BS-IV to BS-VI auto fuels.</p>

<p>Oil refineries had previously upgraded technology and invested over Rs 55,000 crore for production and supply of BS.</p>


India had in 2015 decided to leapfrog to Euro-VI emission norm compliant petrol and diesel from April 2020, from the Euro-IV grade at present

The Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel will be supplied to the national capital by three oil PSUs from their refineries at Mathura, Bina and Bhatinda from April to help it fight the alarming levels of air pollution. "We will be able to meet the requirement of Delhi from April 1," IOC Chairman Sanjiv Singh said here today. "We will have to tweak the fuel production slate to produce BS-VI (equivalent to fuel meeting Euro-VI emission norm), he added. The nation's biggest oil firm, IOC will source the fuel from its Mathura refinery, while Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) will do so from its joint venture refinery at Bhatinda. Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) supply the fuel from its Bina refinery. "Meeting Delhi's requirement of BS-VI grade petrol and diesel will not be a problem," Singh said. He added however that meeting the requirement of the National Capital Region (NCR) will be a challenge as it consumes about 10 per cent of the nation's fuel. India had in 2015 decided to leapfrog to Euro-VI emission norm compliant petrol and diesel from April 2020, from the Euro-IV grade at present. While the deadline for the rest of the country stands, for Delhi, which is choking on thick toxic smog, the deadline for introduction of BS-VI - equivalent to Euro-VI grade, was last week preponed to April 2018. Euro-VI grade fuel contains 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur as against 50 ppm in Euro-IV fuels. Delhi consumed 906,000 tonne petrol and 1.26 million tonne diesel in 2016-17, Singh said. Oil firms have been asked to examine the possibility of the introduction of BS-VI auto fuels in the entire NCR, which includes adjoining cities of Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad, from April 1, 2019. In all likelihood, according to some industry players, supplies in the NCR may not begin by 2019. The BS-IV emission norm was introduced across the country from April 1, 2017. Oil refineries will need to invest Rs 28,000 crore in upgrading petrol and diesel quality to meet cleaner fuel specifications by 2020. According to IOC, for petrol engines, one of the most critical specification is Research Octane No. (RON), which has improved from 88 in BS-II to 91. It is at par with regular 91 octane gasoline (petrol) required for Euro-VI emission norms. Sulphur specification for petrol and diesel will be reduced 50 times for a level of 500 ppm for BS-II fuel to 10 ppm in BS-VI. Previously, the fuels meeting Euro-IV or Bharat Stage BS-IV specifications were to be supplied throughout the country by April 2017 and BS-V or Euro-V grade fuel by April 1, 2020. But now the government plans to switch over directly from BS-IV to BS-VI auto fuels. Oil refineries had previously upgraded technology and invested over Rs 55,000 crore for production and supply of BS.

Ready to supply Euro-VI fuel to Delhi from April, says IOC

<p>Around four lakh four-wheelers will be seized in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=national" target="_blank">National&nbsp;</a>Capital Region, said the Transport Department on Friday.</p>

<p>The decision has been taken after the tough stance of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=national" target="_blank">National&nbsp;</a>Green Tribunal (NGT) over pollution.</p>

<p>According to the department, 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles will be seized in the NCR districts.</p>

<p>Apart from this, the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=uttar+pradesh" target="_blank">Uttar Pradesh&nbsp;</a>Pollution Control Board has also issued strict instructions to a dozen departments to reduce pollution in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=uttar+pradesh" target="_blank">Uttar Pradesh.</a></p>

<p>On October 17, The Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority on banned diesel generators in Delhi, barring those used in metros and hospitals.</p>

<p>The decision came in the wake of degrading air quality in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=national" target="_blank">national&nbsp;</a>capital, which entered into the &#39;Red Zone&#39;.</p>

<p>The Supreme&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=court" target="_blank">Court&nbsp;</a>had also banned sale of firecrackers during the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=diwali" target="_blank">Diwali&nbsp;</a>to contain pollution levels in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=national" target="_blank">national&nbsp;</a>capital.</p>

<p>Prior to this, the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=government" target="_blank">government&nbsp;</a>had issued prohibitory orders on stubble burning, as it had become a major concern for authorities, resulting in air pollution as well as reduction in soil fertility.</p>

<p>Following the orders of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/search?type=news&amp;q=national" target="_blank">National&nbsp;</a>Green Tribunal (NGT), state governments and district administration tightened strictures against stubble burning, and booked charges against farmers, who are not following orders.</p>


According to the department, 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles will be seized in the NCR districts.

Around four lakh four-wheelers will be seized in the National Capital Region, said the Transport Department on Friday. The decision has been taken after the tough stance of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over pollution. According to the department, 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles will be seized in the NCR districts. Apart from this, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has also issued strict instructions to a dozen departments to reduce pollution in Uttar Pradesh. On October 17, The Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority on banned diesel generators in Delhi, barring those used in metros and hospitals. The decision came in the wake of degrading air quality in the national capital, which entered into the 'Red Zone'. The Supreme Court had also banned sale of firecrackers during the Diwali to contain pollution levels in the national capital. Prior to this, the government had issued prohibitory orders on stubble burning, as it had become a major concern for authorities, resulting in air pollution as well as reduction in soil fertility. Following the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), state governments and district administration tightened strictures against stubble burning, and booked charges against farmers, who are not following orders.

Four lakh four-wheelers will be seized in NCR: Delhi Transport minister

<p>The Supreme Court ban on firecrackers this Diwali (October 19) began with a bang (no pun intended) but ended in a whimper.</p>

<p>We talk about &quot;judicial activism&quot; but this is a classic case of the top court being constrained to take action, on a petition filed by three infants after the alarming rise in pollution levels and smog which enveloped the national capital last year on Diwali.</p>

<p>On October 13, the court refused to modify its earlier order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.</p>

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<h5>The administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali.</h5>
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<p>&quot;It&#39;s just an experiment for one year, we will take stock after that,&quot; Justice A K Sikri, who heard the case today, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-refuses-to-lift-ban-on-firecrackers-in-delhi-ncr-says-its-an-experiment-for-1-year-22393">was quoted as saying by WION</a>.</p>

<p>The judge said its 2016 order suspending the licences &quot;should be given one chance to test itself&quot;.</p>

<p>Far from activism, the Supreme Court ban stopped short of altogether banning the bursting of firecrackers. The administration in Delhi and the National Capital Region issued directives to the shopkeepers to stop selling firecrackers. But the administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali.</p>

<p>The results were there for everyone to see. While pollution levels, which were &quot;very poor&quot; just 10 days prior remained at &quot;very poor&quot; on the night of October 19, they shot up to &quot;severe&quot; the next day, the Central Pollution Control Board reported.</p>

<p>The online indicators of the pollution monitoring stations in the city on Diwali glowed red, indicating a &quot;very poor&quot; air quality as the volume of PM2.5 and PM10 sharply rose from around&nbsp;7 pm.&nbsp;The&nbsp;state-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)&nbsp;estimated the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10, ultrafine particulates which are up to 30 times tinier than the width of a human hair, at 154 and 256 micrograms per cubic metre at around&nbsp;11 pm.</p>

<p>The 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 were 424 and 571 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) the next day, much higher than the safe limits of 60 and 100. PM 2.5 can travel through the respiratory tract and reach the lungs causing short-term respiratory ailments such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing and sneezing. They can also worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and heart disease.</p>

<p>Real-time pollution data was alarming. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee&#39;s (DPCC) RK Puram monitoring station recorded PM2.5 and PM10 at 878 and 1,179 micrograms per cubic metre at around&nbsp;11 pm. The pollutants peaked after&nbsp;midnight, surpassing the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 more than 10 times. The monitors stopped working after&nbsp;midnight, suggesting that the pollutants had gone through the roof.</p>

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<h5>Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward.</h5>
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<p>The Air Quality Index (AQI), a barometer for measuring air pollution, was above 400 in most places in the National Capital Region (NCR) the next day. It was at a &quot;hazardous&quot;&nbsp; 978 in New Delhi&#39;s RK Puram area. US embassy&#39;s pollution monitor also recorded &quot;hazardous&quot;&nbsp; with the index scoring an alarming 878, which the mission considers &quot;beyond its air quality index&quot;, which ends at 500. On Diwali, the AQI improved from &quot;severe&quot; (431) in 2016 to (319) &quot;very poor&quot;, the Central Pollution Control Board reported.</p>

<p>A &quot;very poor&quot; air quality implies that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure to such air. If the air quality dips further, the AQI will turn &quot;severe&quot;. An AQI level of 0-50 is considered &quot;good&quot;, 51-100 &quot;satisfactory&quot;, 101-200 &quot;moderate&quot;, 201-300 &quot;poor&quot;, 301-400 &quot;very poor&quot;, and 401 and above is &quot;severe&quot;.</p>

<p><strong>The way forward</strong></p>

<p>Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward. We have the police for keeping crime in check, the traffic police for fining those who violate traffic rules. Perhaps, a similar law-enforcing mechanism on Diwali could be implemented.</p>

<p>China recently set up an &quot;anti-smog police force&quot;. Perhaps, something similar may help us breathe a little easier.</p>


Stringent action such as enforcing an 'anti-smog police force', is required to check air pollution during Diwali

The Supreme Court ban on firecrackers this Diwali (October 19) began with a bang (no pun intended) but ended in a whimper. We talk about "judicial activism" but this is a classic case of the top court being constrained to take action, on a petition filed by three infants after the alarming rise in pollution levels and smog which enveloped the national capital last year on Diwali. On October 13, the court refused to modify its earlier order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. The administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali. × "It's just an experiment for one year, we will take stock after that," Justice A K Sikri, who heard the case today, was quoted as saying by WION. The judge said its 2016 order suspending the licences "should be given one chance to test itself". Far from activism, the Supreme Court ban stopped short of altogether banning the bursting of firecrackers. The administration in Delhi and the National Capital Region issued directives to the shopkeepers to stop selling firecrackers. But the administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali. The results were there for everyone to see. While pollution levels, which were "very poor" just 10 days prior remained at "very poor" on the night of October 19, they shot up to "severe" the next day, the Central Pollution Control Board reported. The online indicators of the pollution monitoring stations in the city on Diwali glowed red, indicating a "very poor" air quality as the volume of PM2.5 and PM10 sharply rose from around 7 pm. The state-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) estimated the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10, ultrafine particulates which are up to 30 times tinier than the width of a human hair, at 154 and 256 micrograms per cubic metre at around 11 pm. The 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 were 424 and 571 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) the next day, much higher than the safe limits of 60 and 100. PM 2.5 can travel through the respiratory tract and reach the lungs causing short-term respiratory ailments such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing and sneezing. They can also worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and heart disease. Real-time pollution data was alarming. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) RK Puram monitoring station recorded PM2.5 and PM10 at 878 and 1,179 micrograms per cubic metre at around 11 pm. The pollutants peaked after midnight, surpassing the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 more than 10 times. The monitors stopped working after midnight, suggesting that the pollutants had gone through the roof. Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward. × The Air Quality Index (AQI), a barometer for measuring air pollution, was above 400 in most places in the National Capital Region (NCR) the next day. It was at a "hazardous" 978 in New Delhi's RK Puram area. US embassy's pollution monitor also recorded "hazardous" with the index scoring an alarming 878, which the mission considers "beyond its air quality index", which ends at 500. On Diwali, the AQI improved from "severe" (431) in 2016 to (319) "very poor", the Central Pollution Control Board reported. A "very poor" air quality implies that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure to such air. If the air quality dips further, the AQI will turn "severe". An AQI level of 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401 and above is "severe". The way forward Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward. We have the police for keeping crime in check, the traffic police for fining those who violate traffic rules. Perhaps, a similar law-enforcing mechanism on Diwali could be implemented. China recently set up an "anti-smog police force". Perhaps, something similar may help us breathe a little easier.

Diwali pollution: Too little too late?

<p>New Delhi, the capital city of India is one of the busiest city in the country. Delhi over the years has experienced spectacular growth in population due to the constant influx of people from neighbouring states such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in search of employment and business.</p>

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<p>NCR has witnessed rapid growth in terms of industrialisation and urbanisation. This growth has put a pressure on supporting systems like infrastructure, housing and transportation. Growth in population has created demand for transportation and thus, there is a remarkable increase in motor-vehicles&nbsp;in the city. The yearly compounding growth of vehicular population for the year 2016 is 9.93 per cent.</p>

<p>With this immense growth in vehicular population, the traffic scenario also becomes challenging, particularly in regard to road accidents. An accident is a man-made tragedy but in some cases, it can be prevented, such as road accidents&nbsp;because of&nbsp;poor vision of drivers.</p>

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<p>Poor vision is one the reasons for road accidents. According to a study done in National Capital Region, 50 per cent drivers are suffering from hypermetropia, whereas, 35 per cent has blurred distance vision. Drivers with poor vision are likely to get more involved in road accidents. Out of every 10 commercial drivers, 3 drivers&nbsp;are short-sighted which means they are myopic.</p>

<p>The study advocates that drivers with poor vision are responsible for almost 30 per cent of total road accidents. The survey has categorised drivers with poor vision as, &quot;acceptable, marginal and unacceptable&quot;. 35 per cent&nbsp;of drivers have myopia or blurred distance vision, therefore, they are categorised in the marginal and unacceptable category. Whereas, 10 per cent&nbsp;of drivers are unfit to drive any vehicle. Drivers facing such disorders, have problems in reading signboards, they also fail&nbsp;to see a U-turn and often get stuck in potholes, that result in major road accidents.</p>

<p>50 per cent drivers are suffering from hypermetropia, out of which 40 per cent&nbsp;cases are severe and, hence, they are also unfit to drive. Drivers with such disability will find problems in bumper-to-bumper driving.</p>

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<p>Color blindness and glare blindness is another rising issue that is responsible for accidents. After doing the respective test, it was discovered that 19 per cent drivers are severely colour blind. Such disability would be responsible for traffic rule violations. They tend to misjudge between traffic lights which increases the risk of road accidents.</p>

<p>Unacceptable and marginal category people are more involved in accident cases. It is also very alarming to know that drivers suffering from night vision were not even aware that they must wear spectacles to improve their vision quality.</p>

<p>Every year almost 1.5 lakh people die in road accidents. And drivers with visual impairment are responsible for 70-80 per cent of cases. Even though, poor vision is nowhere to be mentioned when any FIR is filed in such cases. To reduce the risk of road accidents, transport authority of India must take strict actions before renewing a license or granting the new one.</p>

<p>Eye health and check-up&nbsp;is very important. To create awareness and to focus attention on blindness and vision impairment is necessary to curb such miserable incidents.</p>


A driver with visual impairment has a crash involvement rate of 81 per cent

New Delhi, the capital city of India is one of the busiest city in the country. Delhi over the years has experienced spectacular growth in population due to the constant influx of people from neighbouring states such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in search of employment and business. Growth in population has created demand for transportation and thus, there are a remarkable increase in motor-vehicles. × NCR has witnessed rapid growth in terms of industrialisation and urbanisation. This growth has put a pressure on supporting systems like infrastructure, housing and transportation. Growth in population has created demand for transportation and thus, there is a remarkable increase in motor-vehicles in the city. The yearly compounding growth of vehicular population for the year 2016 is 9.93 per cent. With this immense growth in vehicular population, the traffic scenario also becomes challenging, particularly in regard to road accidents. An accident is a man-made tragedy but in some cases, it can be prevented, such as road accidents because of poor vision of drivers. Poor vision is one the reasons for road accidents. × Poor vision is one the reasons for road accidents. According to a study done in National Capital Region, 50 per cent drivers are suffering from hypermetropia, whereas, 35 per cent has blurred distance vision. Drivers with poor vision are likely to get more involved in road accidents. Out of every 10 commercial drivers, 3 drivers are short-sighted which means they are myopic. The study advocates that drivers with poor vision are responsible for almost 30 per cent of total road accidents. The survey has categorised drivers with poor vision as, "acceptable, marginal and unacceptable". 35 per cent of drivers have myopia or blurred distance vision, therefore, they are categorised in the marginal and unacceptable category. Whereas, 10 per cent of drivers are unfit to drive any vehicle. Drivers facing such disorders, have problems in reading signboards, they also fail to see a U-turn and often get stuck in potholes, that result in major road accidents. 50 per cent drivers are suffering from hypermetropia, out of which 40 per cent cases are severe and, hence, they are also unfit to drive. Drivers with such disability will find problems in bumper-to-bumper driving. Color blindness and glare blindness is another rising issue that is responsible for accidents. × Color blindness and glare blindness is another rising issue that is responsible for accidents. After doing the respective test, it was discovered that 19 per cent drivers are severely colour blind. Such disability would be responsible for traffic rule violations. They tend to misjudge between traffic lights which increases the risk of road accidents. Unacceptable and marginal category people are more involved in accident cases. It is also very alarming to know that drivers suffering from night vision were not even aware that they must wear spectacles to improve their vision quality. Every year almost 1.5 lakh people die in road accidents. And drivers with visual impairment are responsible for 70-80 per cent of cases. Even though, poor vision is nowhere to be mentioned when any FIR is filed in such cases. To reduce the risk of road accidents, transport authority of India must take strict actions before renewing a license or granting the new one. Eye health and check-up is very important. To create awareness and to focus attention on blindness and vision impairment is necessary to curb such miserable incidents.

Watch: Drivers' poor vision leading to more accidents in National Capital Region

<p>Delhiites got some respite from the scorching heat today after a thunderstorm followed by rains lashed the city.</p>

<p>According to the MeT department, thunderstorm along with rain occurred in several parts of Delhi which caused heavy traffic on certain roads including Vikas Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, NH 8 and NH 1.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rain brings respite for Delhi residents: Visuals from RK Puram <a href="https://t.co/yH0Pk5Oewq">pic.twitter.com/yH0Pk5Oewq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/869815806435053568">May 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier, the MeT department had forecast rains and a maximum temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>More rains are expected in the evening and late night hours, an official of the department said.</p>

<p>The relative humidity level was recorded at 65 per cent at 8.30 am.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/monsoon-rains-arrive-in-kerala-coast-north-east-16224">Monsoon rains arrive in Kerala coast, North East</a>.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


According to the MeT department, thunderstorm along with rain occurred in several parts of Delhi which caused heavy traffic on certain roads

Delhiites got some respite from the scorching heat today after a thunderstorm followed by rains lashed the city. According to the MeT department, thunderstorm along with rain occurred in several parts of Delhi which caused heavy traffic on certain roads including Vikas Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, NH 8 and NH 1. Rain brings respite for Delhi residents: Visuals from RK Puram pic.twitter.com/yH0Pk5Oewq — ANI (@ANI_news) May 31, 2017 × Earlier, the MeT department had forecast rains and a maximum temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius. More rains are expected in the evening and late night hours, an official of the department said. The relative humidity level was recorded at 65 per cent at 8.30 am. Also Read: Monsoon rains arrive in Kerala coast, North East. (PTI)

Rains lash Delhi-NCR, bring respite from heat

<p>The entire area of India&#39;s National Capital Region encompassing not only Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad but right up to Meerut, Panipat, Bhiwadi and Rohtak is likely to witness a crippling economy, thanks to the tremendous pollution in the Indian capital and surrounding areas, stated a paper by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).</p>

<p>The tourism, transport, automobile and real estate sectors will be hit with several billions of dollars of fresh investment and GDP loss, the paper said.</p>

<p>ANI reported ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat saying that the tourism season could see a maximum hit with pollution in the city making global headlines.</p>

<p>Foreign tourists often visit the &#39;Golden Triangle&#39;&nbsp;of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur (entire Rajasthan). &quot;If urgent steps on emergency scale are not taken, the economic impact arising out of the health issues could be catastrophic for the NCR, one of the important pillars of the national economy. Besides, this is also a wakeup call for other regions around Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata,&quot;&nbsp;ANI reported Rawat as saying.</p>

<p>Global tour operators have already asked their Indian counterparts if the visitors can avoid Delhi, excepting the touch-down options at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital. &quot;Surely, the maximum impact would be felt by the Delhi economy which had the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Rs&nbsp;5,58,745 crore (USD 8,388) in 2015-16 at current prices. The GSDP of Delhi has been among the fastest growing in the country, but such a growth cannot be taken for granted,&quot; the paper stated.</p>

<p>The chamber suggested short-term and long-term measures to tackle pollution in the NCR.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, authorities in New Delhi have begun revoking licences for thousands of older diesel vehicles on Tuesday and halted construction work on the underground rail network, a Reuters report said.</p>

<p>The capital city, with a population of more than 17 million people, has been covered in smog for a week now.</p>

<p>Licences given to diesel-powered vehicles of more than 15 years old are being withdrawn, which would lead to 200,000 vehicles going off&nbsp;roads, Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung&#39;s office said in a statement.</p>

<p>The National Green Tribunal had in July ordered Delhi authorities to pull diesel vehicles that were more than 10 years old off the roads, but that order was not enforced.</p>

<p>Reuters reported that the levels of PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter that reaches deep into the lungs and causes breathlessness, throat irritation and wheezing, were above 700 in some of the city&#39;s worst affected areas on Monday, according to the air quality index as monitored by the US&nbsp;embassy.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>


The report suggested a holistic set of short-term and long-term measures to tackle pollution in the National Capital Region

The entire area of India's National Capital Region encompassing not only Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad but right up to Meerut, Panipat, Bhiwadi and Rohtak is likely to witness a crippling economy, thanks to the tremendous pollution in the Indian capital and surrounding areas, stated a paper by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The tourism, transport, automobile and real estate sectors will be hit with several billions of dollars of fresh investment and GDP loss, the paper said. ANI reported ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat saying that the tourism season could see a maximum hit with pollution in the city making global headlines. Foreign tourists often visit the 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur (entire Rajasthan). "If urgent steps on emergency scale are not taken, the economic impact arising out of the health issues could be catastrophic for the NCR, one of the important pillars of the national economy. Besides, this is also a wakeup call for other regions around Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata," ANI reported Rawat as saying. Global tour operators have already asked their Indian counterparts if the visitors can avoid Delhi, excepting the touch-down options at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital. "Surely, the maximum impact would be felt by the Delhi economy which had the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Rs 5,58,745 crore (USD 8,388) in 2015-16 at current prices. The GSDP of Delhi has been among the fastest growing in the country, but such a growth cannot be taken for granted," the paper stated. The chamber suggested short-term and long-term measures to tackle pollution in the NCR. Meanwhile, authorities in New Delhi have begun revoking licences for thousands of older diesel vehicles on Tuesday and halted construction work on the underground rail network, a Reuters report said. The capital city, with a population of more than 17 million people, has been covered in smog for a week now. Licences given to diesel-powered vehicles of more than 15 years old are being withdrawn, which would lead to 200,000 vehicles going off roads, Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung's office said in a statement. The National Green Tribunal had in July ordered Delhi authorities to pull diesel vehicles that were more than 10 years old off the roads, but that order was not enforced. Reuters reported that the levels of PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter that reaches deep into the lungs and causes breathlessness, throat irritation and wheezing, were above 700 in some of the city's worst affected areas on Monday, according to the air quality index as monitored by the US embassy. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Delhi's smog to cripple economy in Indian capital and surrounding cities: Study

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