Air panel seeks steps to prevent landfill fire in Delhi-NCR
New Delhi: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday issued directions to Delhi and other NCR state govts to carry out the proper identification, categorisation, demarcation and fire-risk assessment of all landfill sites and dumpsites in National Capital Region.
It also asked them to adopt preventive measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras and methane gas detectors.
CAQM asked agencies in NCR to carry out extensive bio-mining or bio-remediation in the landfills or dumpsites to liquidate the legacy waste as per the targeted timelines already submitted to Supreme Court.
It also asked them to ensure adequate firefighting arrangements are made at all sanitary landfills and dumpsites.
"Ensure adequate storage of sand/chemical fire extinguishing means for immediate action, whenever initiation of fire is sensed, besides dedicated fire tenders and other fire safety measures, specifically during the summer season, which is more prone to SLF and dumpsite fires," said CAQM.
The commission also directed the agencies to provide personal protection equipment to all workers at the site and impart training periodically to the workers towards detection and control of fire.
CAQM asked agencies to ensure the collection, segregation, transportation and processing of municipal solid waste in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. It directed them to conduct regular patrolling by enforcement teams towards the prevention and control of open burning of waste.
In a separate direction, CAQM asked for brick kilns located in the districts outside of NCR to co-fire paddy straw-based pellets, setting a deadline of co-firing 50% of such pellets by Nov 1, 2028.
The deadline is 20% co-firing of paddy straw-based pellets by Nov 1, 2025, and 30% by Nov 1, 2026.
"CAQM has directed Haryana and Punjab govts to mandate the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquettes in all brick kilns located in the districts beyond NCR, as one of the means towards the elimination of the practice of open paddy stubble burning," the commission stated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
29 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Justice is not a startup: Why AI and technology can't lead to meaningful reform
In every broken system, there comes a moment when the pitch deck arrives before the policy fix. Criminal justice is no exception. From artificial intelligence-based legal assistance to digitised grievance portals, technology is now being framed as the cornerstone of criminal justice reform. Of course, interventions such as the expansion of e-filing systems and court record digitisation have meaningful potential in democratising access to justice. By reducing the need for physical presence, minimising travel costs and allowing litigants to access case updates and orders remotely, these tools enhance transparency and make legal processes more accessible. But their adoption is uneven. While the broader narrative remains focused on finding revolutionary solutions, the ground reality inside police stations, courtrooms and prisons is different. These mechanisms continue to fail beneficiaries – largely due to poor implementation, inadequate staff and the lack of political will. Instead of strengthening institutional capacity or evaluating existing legal and social remedies, the push is toward chasing the next prototype. In this race for innovation, it is easy to forget that justice is not a startup. Promise, patchiness and pitfalls The India Justice Report 2025 is a detailed account of the gaps in the criminal justice system's embrace of technology. The report was produced through the collaborative efforts of academic centres, think-tanks and nonprofits. For instance, the report found that 17% of police stations have not yet complied with the Supreme Court's 2020 ruling that all police stations must install CCTV cameras with audio-visual capabilities, night vision and adequate storage. The home ministry's latest Data on Police Organizations, as of January 2023, records compliance only in terms of whether there is at least one CCTV camera in each police station. Full CCTV coverage was achieved in just eight states and Union Territories, showed the justice report's analysis of this data. States like Manipur reported a mere 4% coverage. Puducherry and Lakshadweep had zero CCTV coverage. In any case, these figures indicate that cameras have been installed, not that they are functional. The report also assessed citizen-facing portals based on 10 parameters, such as tracking the status of first information reports and complaints. However, no universal benchmarks, such as standard response times, or accessibility norms, were available to assess performance. There is also no usage data like traffic, resolution timelines, or satisfaction metrics. This makes it difficult to gauge whether these platforms are being used effectively or meeting public needs. In the prison system, the number of jails with at least one video conferencing facility increased from 808 in 2019 to 1,150 in 2022. But given the overcrowding, one video conferencing facility per prison is itself inadequate. Seven states and Union Territories still showed under 70% of their prisons had video conferencing facilities. Even where video conferencing exists, usage purposes vary: 607 prisons used it for both remand and trial hearings, while 37 used it for trial only and 242 for remand, impeding the full potential of such technological initiatives. Similarly, e-Mulaqat, the digital platform for family visits, accounted for just 7% of total visits in 2022. These problems indicate infrastructural or access barriers and poor digital literacy. Illusion of 'fast' innovation Prisons and police stations often struggle with server crashes, expired logins and little to no tech support. These are not teething troubles but design flaws based on an urban, resource-rich imagination of innovation. The growing obsession with artificial intelligence solutions assumes seamless connectivity and digital literacy – an assumption that is not just exclusionary, but dangerous in spaces of justice. A single glitch or a missed entry, could derail a prisoner's right to liberty. Contrast that with a simple, durable paper-based resource that is unaffected by outages or updates, yet capable of lasting for years. The movie Shawshank Redemption follows the life of a wrongfully imprisoned man finding hope in books and handwritten knowledge. Andy Dufresne survives incarceration through his financial acumen and leaves behind a tattered library. It is a reminder that knowledge, even in confinement, can be passed on – dog-eared, but dependable. It is one thing to build a portal but another to ensure its continued use, maintenance and effectiveness in environments where electricity is patchy, connectivity unreliable and staff overburdened. A portal is only as effective as the clerk or officer expected to update it, often someone already stretched thin, with limited training. If technology increases workload or creates parallel paperwork rather than replacing inefficient processes, its value must be questioned. If technology is to serve, it must be reimagined through the lens of slow technology, such as tools that operate offline, protect user confidentiality and function without collecting data that could be misused. These are precisely the kinds of innovations that receive little attention, in part because they do not dazzle. A measured, systems-oriented approach is a reminder that real reform is rarely glamorous, but always grounded.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Get your e-khata, protect your property: DKS
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar launched the BBMP and Revenue Department's massive e-khata drive in Sahakara Nagar, under the BTM Layout constituency, calling it a revolutionary step towards securing property rights for citizens. Speaking at the inauguration, DCM Shivakumar emphasized, 'This government guarantees the safety of your life, your property, and your records. We have come to your doorstep with this assurance.' He said that the Congress-led government was not here just for votes, but to protect the livelihoods and assets of citizens. 'We are implementing the e-khata system practically in this constituency under the leadership of Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. We aim to provide property records without bribes and with transparency,' he said. He recalled earlier initiatives like granting ownership to farmers and regularization schemes during SM Krishna's term. He added, 'With the Bhoomi project, we provided land records to farmers at just ₹5.' He informed that of the 25 lakh properties within BBMP limits, five lakh e-khata certificates had been distributed. In the BTM constituency alone, 50,000 properties had been processed.'From July 1, a month-long e-khata campaign will be conducted. Citizens can upload their documents online or contact the helpline, and officials will visit their homes to assist.' The government is also rolling out an initiative to approve building plans (up to 50x80 ft plots) within a single day via registered engineers—part of a new 'Trusted Map' system. So far, 9,000 plans have been approved under this system. The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted major infrastructure projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore to improve traffic and urban development in Bengaluru, including PRR road passing through the BTM constituency. He assured that discussions were on to resolve issues arising from a recent Supreme Court judgment restricting electricity and water connections to buildings without plan approvals. 'More than how long we stay in power, what we accomplish while in office matters. Just like we remember Kempegowda, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, and SM Krishna, I hope people will always remember Krishna Byre Gowda as the leader who secured your property,' he concluded, urging votersto elect him in the next election with a margin of one lakh votes
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
SC orders release of law student from preventive detention under NSA
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court recently directed the immediate release of a 24-year-old law student hailing from Madhya Pradesh who had been under preventive detention for nearly a year under the National Security Act, 1980 (NSA), after noting that detention of the appellant, was 'wholly untenable'. The top court ordered that the petitioner (appellant) Annu alias Aniket, be released immediately from Central Jail, Bhopal, if he was not required in any other criminal case. A two-judge vacation bench of the top court, led by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Vinod Chandran observed that the grounds mentioned in the order, which include disruption of law and order did not satisfy the requirements of Section 3(2) of the NSA. 'We are of the view that the reasons for which he has been taken into preventive detention does not satisfy the requirement of Sub Section(2) of Section 3 of the NSA, 1980. Preventive detention of the appellant, therefore, becomes wholly untenable', the court said. Section 3(2) empowers the Union and state governments to order preventive detention of a person. The petitioner, had been booked following an altercation on June 14, 2024, at a university campus in Betul, after he allegedly clashed with a professor. Following this, an FIR was filed for attempt to murder and other offences against Annu, forcing him to surrender on June 16 and was placed in judicial custody. While in jail, the NSA detention order was issued against him. This order was later confirmed and extended every three months. The Court noted that the detention order had been extended four times, with the last extension valid till July 12, 2025. After hearing Annu's appeal, the apex court said, 'At the most, these are all issues of law and order. 'Public order' is something bigger'.
