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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Sort out waste or we won't collect it: Noida
Noida: Noida Authority will stop collecting mixed waste from bulk waste generators (BWGs) from July 1. During a workshop at Panchsheel Boys Inter College in Sector 91, officials informed hoteliers, restaurateurs and market associations that a penalty of Rs 500 would be imposed would be imposed for unsegregated waste after the deadline. General manager (health) of Noida Authority, SP Singh, said a cluster-based decentralised composting plan has been drawn up to support this shift. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida "Under the scheme, land for composting units will be provided by the authority, but the cost of setting up and operating them must be borne by the participants. Any establishment, be it a hotel, restaurant, hospital, RWA, AOA, etc, that generates more than 100 kgs of waste per day falls under the BWG category and is obligated to set up an on-site composting unit," he said. Under the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, bulk generators are required to treat their wet waste on-site. During the workshop, instructions were given on how to segregate waste into different categories like wet waste, dry waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, etc. According to estimates, Noida generates nearly 800 tons of solid waste per day, out of which nearly 30% originates from BWG premises.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Time of India
3 steal ambulance from Ghaziabad, modify it to smuggle liquor to dry Bihar, held
MEERUT: Three men allegedly stole an ambulance, changed the registration plates and modified it to create a hidden compartment with the intent to smuggle liquor to Bihar, where sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited. But before they could execute their plan and siren past Bihar police's checkpost, they were arrested on Monday in UP's Meerut. Accused Vinod Singh, 50, and his son Pratap Singh, 26, are residents of Agra, while their accomplice Mohd Farman (in his late 30s) is a resident of Meerut. They stole the ambulance from Ghaziabad from Sihani Gate area of Ghaziabad on June 15 and modified it in Meerut, said police. Following the theft, an FIR was lodged at Ghaziabad police station. Meanwhile, Meerut police received a tip-off about the movement of a stolen ambulance in the city and intercepted the accused. SP (city) Ayush Vikram Singh said, "Farman, a denting-painting worker, removed the original number plates and fixed Bihar registration plates to avoid suspicion. Vinod Singh confessed that he often smuggled liquor to Bihar." SP Singh said the accused chose an ambulance as such vehicles rarely got checked and can siren past police checkposts. "A fresh FIR has been lodged against them under relevant BNS sections. Further probe is on," SP Singh said.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Time of India
Residents urge suspension of Char Dham air services to protect Himalayan ecology and pilgrims' safety
Dehradun: With five helicopter accidents, including two fatal ones, since the Char Dham yatra began on April 30, calls for suspending air services have intensified. The latest crash on the Kedarnath route, which killed seven people, has reignited concerns over both passenger safety and ecological damage. Residents of the Char Dham districts and wildlife experts said ongoing operations pose a threat to human lives and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. They demanded a halt to chopper services during the pilgrimage until adequate environmental and aviation safeguards are implemented. Social activist Shashi Bhushan Naithani, who has campaigned on the issue for years, said, "Helicopters frequently fly dangerously close to glaciers and meadows, traversing valleys in ways that disturb sensitive wildlife and disrupt the region's delicate ecology." He added that TOI had reported in 2022 on low-flying choppers disturbing Himalayan valleys. "Nothing has changed since then. Pilgrim safety is being compromised, forget about flora and fauna. " Villagers have long raised alarms about aviation firms violating norms. Experts warned that unregulated chopper traffic threatens vulnerable and endangered species like snow leopards, musk deer, and Himalayan tahr, all listed on the IUCN Red List. The region's unique high-altitude flora, including oak, chir, and birch trees, is also at risk. Himalayan ecologist S P Singh said, "The biodiversity of alpine meadows is already facing multiple stressors. Continuous helicopter traffic introduces air and noise pollution, encouraging encroachment by woody trees into herbaceous alpine zones. This leaves no space for delicate alpine herbs to survive, and they are at risk of gradual extinction." He added, "We need to pause now. Where are we heading? Is it in sync with science or not, and are we actually developing?" S Sathyakumar, former senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), said that although wildlife in the valley had become somewhat accustomed to helicopters by the time a 2016 study of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary was conducted, a fresh and comprehensive study is now needed to compare current data with earlier findings and assess the true impact of helicopter activity. In the past, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued directives regulating altitude and noise levels for helicopters flying in Kedarnath's airspace, following a petition by a resident seeking an aviation policy for the eco-sensitive zone. As per WII guidelines, helicopters must maintain a minimum altitude of 600m (2,000ft), and noise levels should not exceed 50 decibels. S Tarun, the divisional forest officer of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary forest division, said, "No violation cases have been registered against any helicopter company this year or last year, based on monitoring done by our field staff. We have a decibel meter and range finder installed at Bhimbali for this purpose."
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
State sets target of digging 50 new ponds in Prayagraj under Khet Talab Yojana
In a determined push towards sustainable agriculture and water conservation, the state government is ramping up efforts under the Khet Talab Yojana, encouraging farmers to construct rainwater harvesting ponds in their fields. For Prayagraj district alone, the government has set a target of digging 50 new ponds this year—three times higher than last year's target, said officials. Officials say schemes like Khet Talab Yojana and Amrit Sarovar Yojana are proving instrumental in addressing the state's growing water scarcity, especially in light of declining rainfall and falling groundwater levels. These initiatives have gained momentum following Uttar Pradesh's recognition with the First Prize at the Third National Water Awards-2025, conferred by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in May, they added. Boost in farmer participation Thanks to a government grant of ₹52,500 per pond, more farmers in Prayagraj are embracing the scheme this year. Land Conservation Officer SP Singh said, 'The online application process is already underway. Last year, the target was to construct 13 ponds in the district, and over ₹52 lakh in grants were disbursed to participating farmers.' The scheme has seen rapid expansion across the state. While only 12,000 ponds were dug in 2023, the total has now crossed 1.2 lakh, according to officials—indicating a significant surge in interest and participation among the rural farming community. Addressing rainfall deficit and groundwater depletion 'Due to weak monsoons in recent years, Prayagraj's average annual rainfall has dropped to 835 mm, and unchecked groundwater exploitation has worsened the crisis,' Singh noted. 'The Khet Talab and Amrit Sarovar Yojanas are proving to be crucial milestones in reversing this trend,' he claimed. Last year, over 400 Amrit Sarovars were built in Prayagraj, collectively storing an estimated 175 crore liters of rainwater. Under the Khet Talab Yojana alone, 10 ponds were constructed in the district, contributing to groundwater recharge and supplemental irrigation. Multiple benefits for farmers Singh added that apart from improved water availability for irrigation, the ponds are also enabling farmers to diversify their income sources. 'Many are now using the ponds for fish farming, which is further boosting their earnings.' Across the state, the impact has been substantial. Water storage capacity has reportedly increased from 200 million cubic metres (MCM) to 560 MCM over the past two years—an encouraging sign of water sustainability in Uttar Pradesh.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
50kg single-use plastic seized from Noida market
Noida: Noida Authority conducted a drive in D-Block market in Sector 56 and seized around 50 kg of single-use plastic. Officials said shopkeepers who are found using single-use plastic again will face penalties. SP Singh, general manager (public health), Noida Authority, said, "We have been taking all possible steps to enforce the ban on single-use plastic and to regulate the use of plastic. We are conducting campaigns in Noida to control single-use plastic," he said. He urged residents to carry cloth bags to the markets. Over the years, Noida climbed steadily in the Swachh Survekshan rankings - moving from 324th position in 2018 to 150th in 2019 and 25th in 2020 among cities or urban local bodies (ULBs) with a population of 3 lakh to 10 lakh. In 2021, it was ranked fourth; in 2022, it bagged the fifth spot. In 2022, Noida was also adjudged the best self-sustainable medium city (3 lakh to 10 lakh category). In the 2023 survey, Noida was declared the cleanest city in Uttar Pradesh. At the national level, it obtained the 14th rank out of 446 cities or ULBs in the 1-10 lakh population category.
