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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
MCD committee to meet to chalk out ‘acceptable' plan
New Delhi: The first meeting of the committee set up following the directive given by the chairman of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's standing committee to address the growing stray dog problem in the city will convene on Wednesday. The nine-member panel, which includes the additional commissioner and veterinary director of the civic body, was tasked with overseeing the implementation of control measures and proposing necessary modifications to the Animal Birth Control Regulations, which will also be communicated to the central govt. The formation of the panel was prompted by several councillors reporting incidents of dog bites in their wards. Sunder Singh Tanwar, BJP councillor from Bhati who heads the committee, said that details had been sought from the veterinary department on the number of sterilisation centres running under MCD's jurisdiction, their functioning status, their per-day sterilisation capacity and grey areas, if any. "We have also asked for details of NGOs and veterinary doctors associated with these centres, the last street dog census conducted by MCD and the status of the current plan to hold a fresh census of stray canines in the city," Tanwar said. On the basis of this information, the committee will chalk out an action plan. "We will involve the residents' welfare associations, residents and dog lovers in the finalisation of the plan and its implementation to ensure an acceptable solution," said Tanwar. "We plan to identify the assembly constituencies where the action plan will be implemented on a pilot basis." You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi In the previous standing committee meeting, chairperson Satya Sharma approved a proposal to establish dog shelters in all 12 municipal zones. "The new committee will work on the initiative on dog shelters. This will include identifying suitable locations, assessing resource requirements, budget estimation and coordinating with NGOs and expert organisations associated with public health and animal welfare. The committee will not only focus on animal welfare but will also ensure that public safety, sanitation and health concerns arising from stray dogs are effectively addressed," Sharma had said. The councillors had earlier expressed apprehension that the current ABC Regulations restricted the relocation of stray dogs because of which shifting some dogs to shelters would be difficult to implement. To this, Sharma said there was a need for an amendment to facilitate such a relocation. The committee was directed to examine this legal gap and recommend suitable policy changes. MCD officials added that in their submission to Delhi govt's chief secretary, they had underlined the need for developing relocation centres where dogs reported to be habitual biters or furious in nature could be housed. "There already is a Delhi High Court direction to Delhi govt to work on a policy on this matter," an official said. "The policy will require an amendment to the ABC Regulations because we can hold a dog for observation only for a maximum of 10 days. Since now certain dogs could be kept at relocation centres for their lifetime because of people's complaints, we will need changes in the norms." MCD has 20 sterilisation centres and they are run by 13 NGOs, all registered with the Animal Welfare Control Board of India. "These NGOs have the capacity to sterilise and give anti-rabies vaccination to 10,000 dogs per day. Some of these centres are operational at Delhi govt's veterinary hospital," said an official. "We have floated plans to create additional kennels at some sites in Usmanpur, Rohini, etc., which will share the burden of the hospital centres. We are in the process of having the budgets for these sanctioned."
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Golf Course Road testing ground for state's 1st plastic-free urban stretch
Gurgaon: Starting with Golf Course Road, Haryana's pollution control board HSPCB will start handing out eco-friendly items to residents and businesses to help the city eliminate single-use plastics. HSPCB officials told TOI they will launch the initiative from the Golf Course Road and cover a radius of one kilometre in the first week of Aug. The drive will include commercial buildings, residential societies, schools and roadside vendors. The idea is simple, officials said, eliminate single-use plastic from one of the city's most prominent stretches and set a precedent for sustainable urban lifestyle. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Instead of taking penal action for flouting the ban on single-use plastics, the board is opting for a transition phase that gives people time and tools to adapt. Over the next three months, HSPCB teams will provide paper, cloth and biodegradable alternatives of single-use plastics to residents and businesses. A buffer stock of biodegradable materials is being built to support the change. "We want this to be real, not symbolic. It's not enough to ban plastic; we need to make sure people have substitutes before we ask them to stop using it," said Akanksha Tanwar, HSPCB regional officer, Gurgaon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo This preparation period, officials believe, will reduce resistance and confusion when enforcement begins. HSPCB is also working with resident welfare associations (RWAs) to drive awareness campaigns. Engagement with vendors and shopkeepers, often the biggest users of disposable plastic, is part of the strategy too. "If this pilot on Golf Course Road works, the model will be gradually expanded to other parts of the district. The idea is to treat this stretch as a testing ground for how to go plastic-free in a real-world setting," Tanwar said. Around 14% of all plastic waste generated in the state ends up in landfills, according to an annual report published by HSPCB last year. The state recycles approximately 78% of its plastic waste, the report said, but it also pointed out an alarming rise in plastic waste generation – a 38% increase from 129,866.7 tonnes in 2022-23 to 179,406.5 tonnes the next fiscal year. This is despite the ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) imposed nationwide from July 1, 2022. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, food and beverage containers, coffee cups and lids, drink stirrers, cigarette butts, balloons and balloon sticks, wrappers, wet wipes, and most plastic packaging designed to be used once and discarded. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), plastic packaging that is not covered under the ban and is abundantly used to pack processed food items contributes to 60% of the waste generated. Data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says the world produces over 300 million metric tonnes (MT) of plastic every year. Of this, 14 million MT ends up in the ocean. It estimates that India generates 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, or around 9,500 MT daily, and the country's waste generation has doubled over the past five years. "While the intent behind India's plastic ban has been commendable, enforcement has largely fallen short due to inadequate alternatives, patchy monitoring and a lack of coordinated waste management. That said, I am cautiously optimistic about the focused approach being tried on Golf Course Road. If authorities ensure genuine availability of eco-friendly substitutes and involve communities actively, this pilot could set a practical example for other regions to follow," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at CSE.
NDTV
10-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Helpless, Humiliated": Indian Tourist Says Spent 3 Days In Russia Detention
Moscow: At least nine Indian tourists allegedly met with "inhuman" treatment in Russia after they were detained upon arrival in Moscow. Amit Tanwar, one of the nine tourists detained by Russian immigration officials, claimed he landed in Moscow with 11 other Indians with all necessary and valid documents, but only three of them were cleared by the immigration officials. In a lengthy post on Instagram, Tanwar narrated his hours-long ordeal and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Embassy in Moscow to intervene. "Whoever thinks India is a superpower or believes that India-Russia ties are strong - it's a myth," he said. According to Tanwar, his nightmare started on July 8 when his group of 12 tourists landed in Moscow, "with all the necessary and valid documents." "Out of the 12, only three were cleared by Moscow immigration, while the remaining nine (including myself) were held back without any explanation," he wrote. Tanwar said that Russian authorities took their passport and asked them to sit in a "corner filled with other Indian travellers." Their group was taken to a separate room about an hour later. There, Tanwar claimed, the immigration officers checked their mobile phones, "including our photo galleries, Google search history and YouTube activity for nearly 10-15 minutes." "They also went through all our documents, travel itineraries, and the cash we were carrying." The group was later told that they would be deported. "The officers spoke only in Russian among themselves and later informed us that we were being deported. We were then moved to another room already filled with people - some of whom claimed to have been held there for 2-3 days," he stated. The man claimed that there was no clear communication or clarity from the Russian authorities about the reason for deportation or their current status. He said they were confined in a small, locked room, with no basic assistance. "We are being treated like criminals... The treatment we are receiving is inhumane, and we are feeling helpless and humiliated," he said. Elaborating on his mental ordeal, Tanwar said, "They are departing us in small groups-- just 1 or 2 people at a time. Imagine the mental state of the last person left behind, waiting alone, unsure of then they'll be sent back or what will happen next." Tanwar said the Russian authorities are sending them back via Baku in Azerbaijan, and expressed fear that the treatment they received in Moscow will be repeated there. He said the tourists offered to book their return flights themselves, but Russian authorities did not allow them to do so. "We are stuck here with no idea when we will be released - it might take 2-3 days, or maybe even are so scared of the authorities here that we are even hesitant to raise a complaint or speak publicly-- fearing that doing so might get us held even longer," he said. He also shared the photo of the food served to the detainees by the Russian authorise, which was only a small amount of small rice and boiled veggies. Tanwar said they were given food and a 500 ml water bottle--only twice a day. The Russian officials are extremely rude towards Indian citizens. In a later post on his Instagram stories, Tanwar informed that he landed in Mumbai in the early hours of Thursday.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Confined in small locked room,' Indian travellers to Russia allege they were detained without explanation
An Indian traveller to Moscow has alleged that he, along with several others, was detained by immigration officials without any explanation and is being "treated like a criminal." Amit Tanwar, who took to Instagram to convey the horrifying experience, alleged that 'their passports have been taken' and currently, they are 'confined in a small locked room, with no proper information or basic assistance.' Tanwar also shared a video along with the post. The post reads, 'Whoever thinks India is superpower and India-Russia ties are strong - it's a myth.' It adds, 'We are a group of 12 Indian tourists who travelled to Moscow with all necessary and valid documents. Out of 12, only 3 were cleared by Moscow immigration, while remaining 9, (including myself), were held without any explanation. We arrived in Moscow on July 8 at 10 am, and after being denied entry, our passports were taken. We were instructed to 'follow' the officials and asked to sit in a corner with other Indian travelers.' 'After about an hour, we were taken to a separate room. The immigration officers checked our phones - including photos, Google search history and Youtube activity. They also went through our documents, travel itineraries and the cash we were carrying. No questions were asked. The Russian officials were speaking among themselves in Russian and later informed us that we were being deported. We were then moved to another room - filled with other people. Some of them claimed that they were held for two to three days.' He further writes, 'We are being treated as criminals. There has been no communication or clarity from the authorities about our reason for deportation. At the moment, we are confined in a small locked room, with no proper information or basic assistance. The treatment we are receiving is inhumane, and we are feeling helpless and humiliated.' Tanwar is concerned that they are likely to be sent back via Baku, Azerbaijan, where they might face similar treatment. He also said that the authorities were not allowing them to book flight tickets to return to India voluntarily. "We are so scared of the authorities here that we are even hesitant to raise a complaint or speak publicly... We are stuck here with no idea when we will be released - it might take 2-3 days, or maybe even 4-5," he said. Tanwar tagged both PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar to the post. The incident follows reports of several Indians stranded in Russia being forced to fight in the country's war against Ukraine.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Confined in small locked room,' Indian travelers to Russia allege they were detained without explanation
An Indian traveler to Moscow has alleged that he, along with several others, was detained by immigration officials without any explanation and is being "treated like a criminal." Amit Tanwar, who took to Instagram to convey the horrifying experience, alleged that 'their passports have been taken' and currently, they are 'confined in a small locked room, with no proper information or basic assistance'. Tanwar also shared a video along with the post. The post says, Whoever thinks India is superpower and India-Russia ties are strong - it's a myth. We are a group on 12 Indian tourists who travelled to Moscow with all necessary and valid documents. Out of 12, only 3 were cleared by Moscow immigration, while remaining 9, (including myself), were held without any explaination. We arrived in Moscow on July 8 at 10 am, and after being denied entry, our passports were taken. We were instructed to 'follow' the officials and asked to sit in a corner with other Indian travelers. After about an hour, we were taken to a separate room. The immigration officers checked our phones - including photos, Google search history and Youtube activity. They also went through our documents, travel itineraries and the cash we were carrying. No questions were asked. The Russian officials were speaking among themselves in Russian and later informed us that we were being deported. We were then moved to another room - filled with other people. Some of them claimed that they were held for two to three days. We are being treated as criminals. There has been no communication or clarity from the authorities about our reason for deportation. At the moment, we are confined in a small locked room, with no proper information or basic assistance. The treatment we are receiving is inhumane, and we are feeling helpless and humiliated. Tanwar is concerned that they are likely to be sent back via Baku, Azerbaijan, where they might face similar treatment. He also said that the authorities were also not allowing them to book flight tickets to return to India voluntarily. "We are so scared of the authorities here that we are even hesitant to raise a complaint or speak publicly... We are stuck here with no idea when we will be released - it might take 2-3 days, or maybe even 4-5," he sai Tanwar tagged both PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar to the post The incident follows reports of several Indians stranded in Russia being forced to fight in the country's war against Ukraine. After PM Modi raised the matter during his Moscow visit, Russia agreed to release all Indian nationals serving in its army.
