Delhi approves real-time study of air pollution
New Delhi, July 3: The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Department of Environment's proposal for a real-time study of air pollution in the national capital.
The project, to be completed within a period of 18 months from the date of award of the study, has been granted to the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, the University of Washington in the US on nomination basis.
The "Real-Time Source Apportionment study for Air Pollution in Delhi" will cost around Rs 1.2 crore and the payments will be done from the Air Ambience Fund maintained by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
A cloud-based platform will be established for the study where the data can be shared and viewed by approved groups during the course of the project.
"There has been no scientific study on the pollution in Delhi. Delhi faces pollution throughout the year due to various reasons. So a round-the-year study was important.
"The study will focus on all the pollutants in the air. After the study, the government will have a data for all the different reasons of air pollution which will help in policy making," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told media here after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The DPCC has been authorised to finalise detailed terms of reference for the study with mutual consultations with Washington University team, he said.
It will also finalise the payment conditions and required clearances if payments are to be made in foreign currency to Washington University.
A brief proposal was submitted by Pratim Biswas and Ramesh Raliya, Research Scientists at Washington University, on the behalf of the university.
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MEA rejects "fake memo" alleging links between Indian diplomats, violent activities
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed a "secret memo" circulating on social media as fake. This memo, dated April 2023, falsely claims that Indian diplomats abroad are linked to violent activities involving Indian diaspora groups. The MEA’s External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division clarified, “The said GoI communication is fake,” refuting that any such directive had been issued.
This fabricated document, allegedly signed by former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, suggests that Indian diplomats were instructed to encourage diaspora groups, particularly in Canada, to engage in "street confrontations" with Sikh extremist groups. Named organizations include the Indo-Canada Association (ICA), Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), TiE Silicon Valley (TiE SV), and US-India Business Council (USIBC).
The fake memo has surfaced amidst heightened tensions between India and Canada, spurred by India’s accusations that Canada has become a refuge for Khalistani separatists. Recently, violence occurred at a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, which India condemned, urging Canada to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats.
This controversy follows accusations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who alleged last year in Parliament that he possessed credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2022. India has staunchly denied these claims, calling them “absurd” and accusing Canada of supporting extremist elements on its soil.
