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Afghans stage 2nd protest against Pakistan in Delhi

On August 15, the Taliban had captured the entire Afghanistan except the Panjshir valley. Although, a few days later the Taliban claimed that it had captured the Panjshir valley as well…reports Asian Lite News.

Afghan nationals living in India have been opposing the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan since August 15. Afghan residents in south Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area on Tuesday afternoon staged a massive protest against Pakistan for the second time this week, demanding that it stop meddling in Afghanistan’s affairs. Earlier, on September 10 also, Afghan citizens had staged a protest against Pakistan.

According to them, Taliban is nothing without the tacit support of Pakistan which has helped in breeding them. Taliban does not represent the Afghan people but is controlled by Pakistan. If a Taliban terrorist dies, Pakistan’s identity proof is recovered from his pocket.

Mustafa Ansari, an Afghan national living in Delhi for the last five years, told IANS, “We are staging protests against Pakistan because it is interfering in our country’s national affairs and lending its support to the Taliban.”

“We haven’t received any help till now, the world knows that Pakistan conducted air strikes in the Panjshir province of Afghanistan and it does not have the jurisdiction to interfere in a foreign country’s national issues.”

He said the situation in Afghanistan is not good. After speaking to our family members in Afghanistan, we came to know that they are not able to go outside their home. We have already experienced the horror under the control of Taliban.

On August 15, the Taliban had captured the entire Afghanistan except the Panjshir valley. Although, a few days later the Taliban claimed that it had captured the Panjshir valley as well.

Another Afghan citizen protesting against Pakistan told IANS, “After the fall of the democratic Afghan government, a new Taliban government has come to power that is why we are protesting. Innocent civilians are being killed as well as continuous attacks are being carried out in the Panjshir valley.

On September 7 after capturing Panjshir valley, the Taliban announced an interim government in Afghanistan. However, Afghan nationals living in India are angry over the new Taliban government controlling Afghanistan and have launched protests.

India’s approach to Kabul will be guided by friendship: Shringla

“Our long-standing investment in the people of Afghanistan has earned us tremendous goodwill and cemented the civilisational bond between our two countries,” Shringla said

India on Tuesday said its civilizational bond with Afghanistan and friendship with Afghan people will continue to guide its approach towards the war-ravaged country in the future

“As a neighbouring country of Afghanistan, we are naturally concerned about the developments within that country and their external repercussions. India has a civilisational relationship with the Afghan people and those long-standing links guided and will continue to guide our approach,” Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in his remarks at the virtual symposium on ‘Glancing Back, Gazing Beyond: Understanding Afghanistan.’

Talking about UNSC resolution 2593, he said it unequivocally demands that Afghan territory not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts; and specifically refers to terrorist individuals proscribed by the UN Security Council, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The Foreign Secretary added the resolution also sets expectations on safe passage and secure departure of Afghans and all foreign nationals from Afghanistan.

“There is recognition of the need to uphold human rights, including of women and minorities, and to encourage all parties for an inclusive, negotiated political settlement. There is reaffirmation for responding to the desire of Afghans to sustain and build on Afghanistan’s gains over the last twenty years,” he said.

ALSO READ-Taliban stop return of Afghans through Torkham

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Bill for Commission for Air Quality Management passed in LS

Delhi being a landlocked state, the sources of air pollution comprise factors beyond the local municipal and local government limits….reports Asian Lite News

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill that seeks to set up the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas for better co-ordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index.

“On the one hand, we have administrative and environmental experts associated with this process, and on the other we have involved representatives of the states surrounding the Delhi-NCR region,” Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, told the Lok Sabha as he presented the Bill for voting amid continued din.

Administrative orders and court committees were generally deployed to deal with the air pollution problem in the National Capital Region and even then, the air quality remained a major cause of concern, especially in winters, he said.

The Centre had brought out an ordinance for setting up a Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas last year but it had lapsed in March this year. A similar ordinance was promulgated on April 13, 2021, and the Bill, to replace this ordinance, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 30.

New Delhi: Smog engulfs the national capital as the air quality worsens, on Nov 15, 2019. The air pollution emergency in Delhi has aggravated with the air quality index (AQI) spiking sharply to 528 on Friday morning.The AQI on Thursday was much lower at 470 in the ‘severe plus’ category. The PM 10 count was also in the severe plus category at 496 and PM 2.5 count was at 324.(Photo: IANS)

Delhi being a landlocked state, the sources of air pollution comprise factors beyond the local municipal and local government limits. Agricultural activities, majorly straw burning, brick kilns, thermal plants, transport and industry apart from construction in Delhi and NCR areas all contribute to the air pollution but several of these are non-local sources.

The ordinance first and now the Bill takes into cognizance the air shed approach as the government realised that Delhi’s air cannot be managed by activities confined to Delhi, it must be an air shed approach.

The government said that it was noticed that there is lack of a permanent, dedicated and participative mechanism adopting a collaborative and participatory approach involving relevant Central ministries, state governments, local bodies, and other stakeholders to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region and its adjoining areas.

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Delhi air pollution show decreasing trend over last 4 years

A number of policy measures have been taken in the National Capital Region (NCR) to curb air pollution such as switching to cleaner BSVI fuel..reports Asian Lite News

An early estimate from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D), has shown a decreasing trend in PM2.5 concentration over Delhi-NCR over the last four years.

“Our data is showing that pollution levels have gone down. In 2020, it had anyways gone down because of the lockdown etc. But data from 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 has shown a decreasing trend,” said Sagnik Dey, associate professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT-Delhi.

A number of policy measures have been taken in the National Capital Region (NCR) to curb air pollution such as switching to cleaner BSVI fuel, installing CEMS monitoring across industries, cleaner zig zag technology in brick kilns, completion and use of Eastern and Western Peripheral Highways, which bypasses heavy traffic away from Delhi limits, and deployment of happy seeders, which address crop residue burning to an extent.

“With all these measures, the data from the government monitoring has shown a decreasing trend in PM2.5 concentration over Delhi-NCR,” said S.N. Tripathy, head of the Civil Engineering Department at IIT Kanpur.

New Delhi: Smog engulfs the national capital as the air quality worsens, on Nov 15, 2019. The air pollution emergency in Delhi has aggravated with the air quality index (AQI) spiking sharply to 528 on Friday morning.The AQI on Thursday was much lower at 470 in the ‘severe plus’ category. The PM 10 count was also in the severe plus category at 496 and PM 2.5 count was at 324.(Photo: IANS)

But Tripathy also put an immediate caveat: “The time series is very short, and yet, the data is showing some decreasing trend.”

Because of this, both Dey and Tripathi declined to hazard a guess to put a quantum on the levels of pollution, which may be in the range of 10-15 per cent or 15-20 per cent.

Tripathy is part of the National Knowledge Network, which has been set up to provide scientific guidance to achieve National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) goals and has been pushing for adopting an airshed approach as a provincial management expanding to the states.

The government on Saturday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to constitute a commission for air quality management in Delhi-NCR and its surrounding regions based exactly on the airshed approach.

“Domestic policies such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna, which has provided a successful solution in the form of 14 crore LPG connections in India, too has been making a huge difference. Household cooking contributes to one-fourth of the mortality burden due to air pollution in the region. Not just domestic cooking, the street vendors shifting to LPG too may have helped,” said Tripathi.

Lead is a carcinogen generated from solid fuels used in household cooking while nitrogen dioxide emissions (NOx) are mostly attributed to transport.

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India News

Goa, Delhi Power Ministers in public face-off over tariff models

During the debate Jain said that the free 300 power units would serve as a boon to nearly 87 per cent households in Goa…reports Asian Lite News.

Goa Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and his Delhi counterpart Satyendar Jain on Monday had a much anticipated public face-off over the virtues of the power tariff structures in place in the two states.

The public debate between the two ruling politicians took place in Panaji, more than a week after Cabral challenged the Aam Aadmi Party — which is gearing up for a high visibility election campaign ahead of the 2022 polls and which has promised free 300 units of power for domestic connections, as well as uninterrupted 24×7 power supply, if the party comes to power.

During the debate Jain said that the free 300 power units would serve as a boon to nearly 87 per cent households in Goa.

“Nearly 87 per cent households consume less than 300 units of electricity. The announcement made by the AAP will benefit all these households. They will get a zero bill,” Jain said.

Cabral however contended that there are no free lunches and that if power is given free of cost or at a highly subsidised rate, then a government would invariably tax the taxpayer through other channels.

“Nothing is free in this world. Whatever they are providing for the people of Delhi is taken from the taxpayers of Delhi and besides, their government’s borrowings run into crores of rupees,” Cabral said.

The Goa Power Minister also said that private power distribution companies in the national capital were indirectly benefited by the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

Cabral also said that the tariff structure in Goa was unique and the power rates in the coastal state were already low compared to the national average.

“Here, the Goa government is itself the distributor and we have kept rates low. Our power tariff, no matter how many units one uses, doesn’t go beyond Rs four per unit for the consumer. In Delhi, if you cross 200 hundred units, even after the subsidy from the government, the rate is higher than what is paid for the same number of units in Goa,” Cabral shot back.

This is the second time that tariff structures in the two states, have triggered rhetoric between leaders of two political parties.

In November last year, Cabral and AAP MLA and Delhi Jal Board vice chairman Raghav Chaddha had also raised hype about a debate over the power tariffs in their respective states.

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Delhi Metro resumes operations

“General public is advised to cooperate with the Metro authorities ensuring compliance to Covid appropriate behaviour inside metro premises throughout their travel,” it said…reports Asian Lite News.

Public movement, transport, markets, and malls will restart partially in the national capital from Monday after one and half months’ lockdown imposed from April 19 onwards following an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases.

Along with the reopening markets, government and private offices are also set to resume work.

The national capital’s lifeline Metro services, which were closed following an unprecedented spike in Covid cases, will resume for general public from Monday with 50 per cent seating capacity, as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) directed on Saturday.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Corporation (DMRC), in a public notice issued ahead of resuming its services, said that only half of the available trains will be inducted into service with a frequency ranging from about 5 to 15 minutes on different lines.

“General public is advised to cooperate with the Metro authorities ensuring compliance to Covid appropriate behaviour inside metro premises throughout their travel,” it said.

DMRC had on Saturday stated that no standing passengers would be allowed inside the metro rail and in order to ensure social distancing and compliance, only 50 per cent seating will be permitted inside trains.

More trains will be available on schedule from Wednesday onward.

In a process to unlock Delhi for the second consecutive week, after permitting construction and manufacturing/ factories since last Monday, the DDMA, in its order issued on Saturday, has allowed to markets and malls to open on alternate days (odd-even basis), which will be decided on the basis of the shop’s number.

However, the weekly markets will remain shut till June 14.

People buying vegetables, flowers and fruits seem to ignore social distancing guidelines during Coronavirus lockdown in the wake of the 2nd wave of COVID-19 in Bengaluru. (IANS)

“Situation of Covid-19 in NCT of Delhi has again been reviewed and observed that, though the number of Covid-19 patients and positivity rate is declining, the situation is still precarious, therefore in order to contain the spread of the virus and to further break the transmission chain, curfew needs to be further extended for another week in the territory of NCT of Delhi (except essential and permitted activities/services) along with the reopening of some more prohibited activities in phase manner in areas outside the containment zones for overall well being of NCT of Delhi,” the DDMA order stated.

Delhi on Sunday reported 381 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest since March 10, when the city had reported 370. The daily positivity rate, which has been below 1 per cent for over a week, was at 0.50 per cent, according to the health bulletin, against 0.52 per cent on March 10.

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Delhi gears up to tackle 3rd Covid wave

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain held a meeting with two expert committees on Friday…reports Asian Lite News

The Delhi government will enhance its health infrastructure, including ICU beds, medical oxygen, medicines etc for the possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, bracing for around 37,000 cases in a day.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain held a meeting with two expert committees on Friday over a possible third wave. The discussions were largely on setting objective criteria for hospitals beds, oxygen management and overall efforts which will be needed if daily Covid cases witnesses an unprecedented surge.

During the second wave, Delhi had witnessed the highest coronavirus cases in a day – 28,395 on April 20, and with a massive surge of daily cases the health infrastructure was overwhelmed and reached a near collapse stage.

Kejriwal said on Saturday that health management is not just focused on enhancing ICU beds in the hospitals, but on many other key factors too which need to be prepared in advance, especially availability of oxygen stock.

New delhi COVID 19

He said with an expected third wave of Covid-19, 420 tonnes of oxygen storage capacity is being prepared. “We have also spoken to Indraprastha Gas Limited to produce 150 tonnes of oxygen, which however, will take at least 18 months, but we have to prepare. Apart from it, the Delhi government will also procure 25 oxygen supplier tankers,” Kejriwal added.

ALSO READ: Delhi’s daily Covid positivity rate below 1 per cent

The Delhi government has also decided to set up two genome sequencing labs for detection of new variants, if there will be any. “Two genome sequencing labs to be set up, one at LNJP hospital and another at RGSS to know if there are old variants or new variants of coronavirus. It will help doctors to give treatment to the patients accordingly,” Kejriwal announced.

Along with oxygen and ICU beds, the Delhi health management this time will also be ready to ensure availability of Covid-19 drugs and also to avoid unnecessary rush of people in search of medicines in the markets.

New Delhi: Health worker and relative carries the body of covid-19 affected victims for last rites at Nigambodh ghat in New Delhi on Sunday, 16 May, 2021.(Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS)

“Last time (during 2nd wave) it was observed that Covid-19 medicines were being prescribed through WhatsApp messages and whenever new messages were issued, people had to rush to procure that particular drug and at the end there was a shortage of medicines. Therefore, we have decided to set up a team of doctors and experts to examine the demand of medicines to tackle panic and the WhatsApp forwards of medicines,” Kejriwal said.

Apart from all these preparations, the Delhi government has also set up a paediatric task force to decide the number of beds, ICU facilities and other equipment needed especially for children. “A long discussion was held with the task force on various issues on Friday and it has been directed to submit its recommendations in the next two weeks. This task force will especially work on children, if the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic affects them in large numbers. We will have separate wards in hospitals, ICU beds, oxygen cylinders and masks etc for children,” Kejriwal added.

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COVID-19 India News

Delhi’s daily Covid positivity rate below 1 per cent

The city’s positivity rate — the proportion of samples tested returning positive — on March 19 was reported at 0.93 per cent, while the daily number of Covid cases on the day was 716….reports Asian Lite News

On the day the lockdown was partially lifted (only construction and manufacturing are allowed) in the national capital on Monday, the daily positivity rate declined to below 1 per cent (0.99%), the lowest since March 19.

The city’s positivity rate — the proportion of samples tested returning positive — on March 19 was reported at 0.93 per cent, while the daily number of Covid cases on the day was 716.

Delhi’s daily positivity rate remained below 5 per cent since May 21. The World Health Organization says a positivity rate under 5 per cent indicates that the outbreak within a population is under control.

Delhi on Monday reported 648 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the third straight day that Delhi’s daily cases were reported below the 1k mark.

Delhi reported 86 deaths, below 100 daily deaths for the second straight day. Delhi’s daily death count was reduced to below 100 on Sunday (78), which was the lowest since March 12.

With continued reduction in daily Covid cases, Delhi’s active cases have reduced to 11,040, similarly the number of patients in home isolation have also declined to 5,374, according to the Delhi Government health bulletin issued on Monday.

With 471 fresh recoveries, Delhi’s total Covid recoveries are 6,32,230, while the number of total positive cases so far rose to 6,46,348.

Meanwhile, India reported 1,27,510 new infections in 24 hours — its lowest in 50 days, as 2,795 more succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Health workers collect swab samples for Covid-19 testing at a testing center in New Delhi on Friday, May 07, 2021. (Photo: Wasim Sarvar/ IANS)

This is the least number of fresh infection reported after April 8, when India recorded 1,31,968 cases while on April 7, India witnessed 1,26,789 fresh cases.

Fatalities also dropped below the 3,000-mark for the first time since April 26, when the country witnessed 2,771 deaths.

Most Metro cities are still fighting huge waves, though Mumbai and Delhi have arrested the surge.

For the first time in 47 days Delhi on Saturday reported less than 100 cases. Andhra Pradesh on Sunday breached the 15-lakh mark in recoveries.

India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,81,75,044 with 18,95,520 active cases and 3,31,895 deaths so far.

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 2,55,287 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the total discharge to 2,59,47,629 in Covid cases till date.

The Health Ministry said that a total of 21,60,46,638 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 27,80,058 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 34,67,92,257 samples have been tested up to May 31 for Covid-19. Of these 19,25,374 samples were tested on Monday.

In the last three weeks, India has recorded over 75,000 deaths. On May 24, India crossed a grim milestone of three-lakh deaths due to the coronavirus infections, thus becoming world’s third country after the US and Brazil to cross three-lakh deaths.

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COVID-19 India News

Relief as Delhi sees drop in Covid positivity rate

This is the second consecutive day Delhi’s daily positivity rate remained below 5 percent. The WHO recommends that areas below 5 percent for a two-week period for an infection cab be considered under control…reports Asian Lite News.

Delhi reported around 2,200 fresh Covid cases and a daily positivity rate of 3.5 percent in the last 24 hours, giving relief to the people in the national capital who have been fighting the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The daily positivity rate, crucial to assess the spread of coronavirus in the area, was on Friday reported below the 5 percent mark (4.74%) and continued to slow down to 3.5 percent, the lowest since March 31 when it was 2.71 percent.

Addressing a digital press conference on Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Covid cases have come down to around 2,200 and the daily positivity rate to 3.5 percent in Delhi, but we need to keep following strict guidelines of Covid management. We have to do everything to protect the lives of people and to break the chain of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

This is the second consecutive day Delhi’s daily positivity rate remained below 5 percent. The WHO recommends that areas below 5 percent for a two-week period for an infection cab be considered under control.

Within 5 weeks of the lockdown, Delhi has seen Covid-19 daily cases steadily come down from a high of over 28,000 (April 22) to 2,200 on Saturday.

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Delhi records highest single-day death toll

The city has recorded its highest single-day Covid toll even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said there was “no more panic on availability of oxygen”…reports Asian Lite News.

Amid a deteriorating Covid-19 situation, the national capital on Thursday recorded its highest ever single-day toll from the disease in 24 hours as 395 deaths were reported.

The situation in Delhi has been quite alarming, with many patients not getting bed in hospitals, along with a widespread shortage of medical oxygen.

The city has recorded its highest single-day Covid toll even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said there was “no more panic on availability of oxygen”.

On Thursday, while 395 patients died, 24,235 new cases were reported.

During the last 24 hours, 73,851 tests were done. Out of them, 32.82 per cent were found to be corona positive. Besides, since Wednesday, 25,615 corona patients in Delhi have also recovered.

So far, a total of 15,772 people have died due to coronavirus in Delhi. There are currently 97,977 active corona patients.

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Delhi withdraws order on Ashoka Hotel Covid centre

The decision comes as Delhi government on Monday authorised the Primus Hospital to run a Covid care facility at the Ashoka Hotel…reports Asian Lite News

A day after declaring the Ashoka Hotel a dedicated Covid facility for judges of Delhi High Court and their family members, the Delhi government withdrew the order after the court took exception.

“Issued directions to withdraw this order immediately,” Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia responded to a tweet citing how 100 rooms at the Ashoka Hotel will be converted into a Covid facility for the judges, other judicial members of the Delhi High Court and their families.

On Monday, the Delhi government authorised the Primus Hospital to run a Covid care facility at the Ashoka Hotel for the judges of Delhi High Court and their family members.


Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court took suo motu cognizance of reports on the issue and asserted that it had not made any request for creating Covid facilities for its judges, staff and their families in a five star hotel.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said: “No communication has been made to anyone in this regard.”

Also read:Delhi gasps for oxygen