Set cameras for aged vehicles immediately: Delhi minister
The direction came at a high-level review meeting to finalise a comprehensive Environment Action Plan (2025-26), which will include a series of technology-based, high-impact interventions aimed at curbing air pollution and controlling dust emissions, officials said.
'The minister directed the immediate installation of ANPR cameras, which will automatically capture incoming vehicle numbers, cross-check them against the VAHAN database, and identify whether the vehicle is legally permitted to enter,' said the Delhi government in a statement on Friday, adding vehicle registration details will automatically be verified by the cameras and if found to be overage, an alert message will be played through an LED display system.
'LED screens at border points will also flash vehicle numbers and simultaneously trigger 'wrong entry' alert SMS and WhatsApp messages to the owner,' the statement added.
HT on Thursday reported the government's plans to install such cameras and extract data from the Centre's VAHAN database to identify end-of-life vehicles entering the Capital from across the country.
'We want to target pollution at its very originating point,' Sirsa said on Friday. On the new measures, he said, 'This is more than enforcement—this is about protecting the health of our people. Through data, automation, and inter-state communication, we are creating a pollution shield around Delhi.' he said.
Proactive alerts will also be sent to vehicles approaching the end-of-life threshold, with reminder messages to improve compliance, an official, part of the meeting said, stating the transport department has been directed to prepare a 12-month SMS notification calendar for sustained interstate outreach.
The minister also reviewed timelines and targets across key areas, including vehicular pollution control, air quality improvement, mass tree plantation, solid and C&D waste management, and the deployment of water sprinkler trucks and anti-smog guns starting June 1, officials said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Centre extends forest clearance validity
The Union environment ministry has extended the validity of forest clearances , which will now be the same as validity of coal mine leases granted under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957, according to a letter it issued to all states and UTs earlier this month. Centre extends forest clearance validity Earlier the guidelines and rules framed under Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam 1980 (the forest conservation law), forest clearances for coal mine leases could be granted for a maximum period of 30 years. The Chhattisgarh government through a letter dated March 10 sought clarification on the relevant provisions of extension of validity of approvals granted under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023 to coal mining projects, according to documents seen by HT. The matter was thereafter discussed by the Forest Advisory Committee of the environment ministry on June 12. The meeting discussed that as per the provisions of the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 and a clarification provided by the ministry of coal in a letter dated May 19, validity of coal mining projects/leases of state-owned companies, acquired under the CBA is perpetual i.e. once the lease is granted it remains valid till the life of the coal mine. The Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 provides for the acquisition of land containing or likely to contain coal deposits for government companies only. 'Accordingly, the forest clearance would also be valid during the entire life of the mine i.e. till the exhaustion of its mineable minerals reserve irrespective of change lessee,' the minutes of the June 12 meeting said. Thereafter in a letter to states, available on Parivesh website, the ministry has said that it is hereby amending the guidelines related to validity of approvals granted to coal mining. The extension will be subject to payment of net present value (NPV). NPV is the valuation or cost of forests diverted determined based on ecological role and value of forests which is graded based on quality and type of forests. NPV payments are made by project proponents to compensate for the losses of forests and their ecosystem services because of infrastructure projects including mining. 'Earlier, in cases where substantial forest land was involved, MoEFCC preferred cluster-based mining approach, and a phase-wise clearance process. That allow periodic appraisal. Now, under this new order once FC is granted, it's for the entire life of mine, especially in coal bearing act cases where no lease term is defined. This extension will prevent any phase-wise appraisal. Since there is also a complete lack of monitoring system on ground, which together with extended forest clearance, will give the miner a free run. In case of private companies and MDO operators, it is possible that without exhausting the lower seams, which entail higher cost, they might break fresh forest area because they already have FC for the life of the mine,' said Sudiep Shrivastava, a Chhattisgarh-based environmental lawyer.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
AI-driven systems to help Visakhapatnam police enforce traffic rules, identify criminals
The city police are all set to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for traffic management and real-time surveillance as part of the measures to improve public safety and law enforcement. This AI-driven system aims to address issues such as traffic enforcement and identification of criminals. In an interaction with The Hindu, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shankabratha Bagchi said that one of the biggest challenges the urban police face is a shortage of personnel, especially in the traffic department. Traffic management comprises two core tasks — regulation and enforcement. While regulation involves regulating the flow of vehicles, enforcement is focused on identifying and penalising violations. 'On a daily basis, we find many traffic violations such as overspeeding, riding without helmets, not wearing seat belts, reckless and triple riding, minor driving, and overloading. Many of these lead to fatal accidents,' Mr. Bagchi said. 'Currently, the traffic police are engaged in manual checks and capturing photographs to generate e-challans against the violators. With an AI-based system in place, these tasks can be automated, allowing traffic personnel to focus more on regulation duties at major junctions,' he said. The new system will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to detect violations and automatically generate e-challans. AI-powered traffic signals will adapt in real-time to the flow of traffic and coordinate across multiple junctions to reduce congestion. 'For instance, if a green signal allows traffic to pass through Hanumanthawaka Junction, the system ensures that vehicles will receive another green light at Venkojipalem Junction. This seamless coordination improves traffic flow and reduces waiting time,' Mr. Bagchi explained. He said that the IT companies working with the police are developing these real-time synchronisation features. In addition to improving enforcement and signal coordination, AI models will analyse traffic data to predict congestion patterns, suggest re-routing options during VIP movements or festivals, and help manage traffic more efficiently. Facial Recognition Cameras Another key feature of the initiative is the installation of Facial Recognition Cameras (FRCs) at major traffic junctions. These cameras will capture images of individuals and match them against databases from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), and City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB). 'If a match is found with a criminal database, the system will instantly alert on-duty personnel, enabling quick and proactive response,' the Police Commissioner said. Several IT companies have presented the project to Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, and other top officials. Financial details are currently being finalised and will be submitted to the government for approval. 'Once approved, the system will be implemented in phases, beginning with the Beach Road stretch, followed by other key junctions along the NH-16. These locations will be equipped with multiple ANPR and facial recognition cameras offering 360-degree surveillance,' he said.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: Finally, some football
As they say in cricket Wednesday, also the first day of the fourth India-England Test, was a moving day. It began with the National Sports Governance Bill being introduced in Parliament and a meeting of the technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ready a shortlist for Manolo Marquez's replacement and finished with East Bengal beginning the Indian Oil 134th Durand Cup with a bang. The Indian Oil 134th Durand Cup will, hopefully, keep the focus on the pitch.(Samir Jana/HT) Bill for change The sports governance bill has been some time in the making, the journey beginning in 2011 through then Union sports minister Ajay Maken. Even though they are on different sides of the political divide, sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya gave credit to Maken for 'doing good work in shaping the National Sports Code, 2011." With the National Sports Election Panel, National Sports Tribunal and the all-powerful National Sports Board, the bill will change the way sport is governed in India and align the country with the USA, UK, China, and Japan once it becomes law. 'While the law is expected to streamline things, it remains how the right balance between autonomy of BCCI and state oversight can be achieved,' HT said in an editorial. The context is cricket but the larger point of maintaining autonomy is relevant to football where FIFA does not take kindly to third-party interference. The bill being introduced in the Parliament.(Sansad TV/ANI videograb) Lawyer Rahul Mehra is among those who do not see it as a big beautiful bill. Mehra has his facts right and makes more than a few points but it is equally true that, as per the union sports ministry, there are more than 350 cases related to sport that were in courts when the bill was tabled. Football is a case in point. The litigation has dragged on and on and the new AIFF constitution remains a work in progress. Since the bill lists eligibility criteria for election, it will direct who can contest for the president's and other post in AIFF. But that is for later. Jamil frontrunner More immediate is the need to find a replacement for Manolo Marquez. India are likely to use the September window and they play Singapore in crucial Asian Cup qualifiers in October so it is likely that a coach who knows the country and the players will be considered. Which could make Tarkovic the third among equals. Tarkovic coached the Slovakia team that beat Poland 2-1 in the Euro 2020 and though he is 52 and has an idea of football in Asia, he is not familiar with India. Jamil and Constantine are. But it is possible that Jamil's run with Jamshedpur FC last term, taking the unheralded side to the semi-final of the Indian Super League and the Super Cup, could make him the favourite for the job. East Bengal begin with a bang On the business of favourites, 16-time champions East Bengal began the Durand Cup giving notice that they are in it to win it. True, there will be sterner tests than young debutants South United FC but what better than starting with a 5-0 win. Naorem Mahesh Singh enjoyed the start to his stint as captain with a peach of a goal, new comer Bipin Singh scored and Dimitrios Diamantakos got a goal in his first match. That three players from the bench scored will please coach Oscar Bruzon. East Bengal have made a raft of signings including Edmund Lalrindika, Jay Gupta and imports Miguel Figueira, Mohammed Rashid and Kevin Sibilla. They will hope it will be enough to build a squad that can win a 17th Durand Cup whose prize purse has been upped over 250% to ₹3 crore. Durand Cup has survived World Wars and the wars independent India fought. In 1928, Lord Irwin gave away the prizes and in 1935 government officials were granted leave to watch matches . It is fitting that a competition with such rich history puts our focus back on what is happening on the pitch. Hopefully it will be that way till August 23. By then, FC Goa will have played their Asian Champions League 2 qualifier and Mohun Bagan Super Giant began training for the main round of the same competition in September. Durand Cup's 43 matches is not a lot and the uncertainty of when ISL will start remains, but along with India's matches, we can look forward to some football. Play of the week
