Delhi pollution: Railway Board asks 4 zones to replace, convert non-compliant diesel generators
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New Delhi (PTI): The Railway Board has asked four zones to replace or convert non-compliant diesel generator (DG) sets in line with the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for controlling air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
In a letter dated November 18, the Board told the Northern, North Central, Northwestern, and West Central zones to "replace the non-compliant DG sets with compliant DG sets".
It added that if replacements are not possible, the zones can either convert the DG sets to dual fuel mode or install with a Retrofit Emission Control Device (RECD).
The instruction followed a communication sent by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to the chairman of the Railway Board on October 26. The Committee had sought suitable directions to ensure compliance with the CAQM order on the use of only compliant DG sets.
"All units, including industrial, commercial, residential, office establishments, banks, mobile tower buildings, health care facilities, railway stations, metro stations, bus terminals, embassies, etc. under your jurisdiction, are required to replace the non-compliant DG sets with the compliant DG sets or convert to dual fuel mode or install RECD, as applicable, to control air pollution due to the operation of DG sets," DPCC had said in its letter.
"You are also well aware that Delhi faces grave air pollution, particularly in the winter season, and the level of pollutants goes much beyond the prescribed standards for Ambient Air Quality," it added.
The DPCC stated that the entire Union Territory of Delhi has been designated as an air pollution control area under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Further, the CAQM in NCR and the adjoining regions has issued directions in 2023 and 2024 for the regulated use of DG sets to curb air pollution in Delhi.
The DPCC also cited five specific directions for DG sets of different capacities, ranging from less than 19 kV to 800 kV, along with the required actions for each category.
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Indian visa application centre suspended indefinitely in Bangladesh's Chattogram
Dhaka (PTI): India on Sunday suspended visa operations at its mission in Bangladeshi port city of Chattogram until further notice, according to media reports.
The move comes in the wake of a fresh wave of unrest witnessed in the country following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
His death triggered attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner's residence in Chattogram on Thursday.
Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
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He was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen at an election campaign in central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 18.
“Due to the recent security incident at Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong (Chattogram) will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice,” the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) said in a brief statement.
The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation, the statement added. The decision came into effect on Sunday.
There are five IVAC facilities across Bangladesh at Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet. An IVAC official told PTI that the other four offices have remained operational as of Sunday.
India on Thursday resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after closing it over escalated security concerns, but closed for a brief period two other identical facilities in Rajshahi and Khulna as anti-India protestors tried to march towards the Indian missions there.
On Saturday, security was strengthened at the Indian Assistant High Commission office and the visa application centre in Bangladesh's Sylhet city.
The enhanced security measures were put in place to ensure that “no third party can exploit the situation,” Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Saiful Islam was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune newspaper on Saturday.
Hadi, 32, was laid to rest on Saturday amid extra-tight security beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University mosque.
Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral prayers, and ahead of the ritual, chanted anti-India slogans like “Delhi or Dhaka - Dhaka, Dhaka” and “brother Hadi’s blood will not be allowed to go in vain.”
Earlier on December 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” it said.
The envoy was apprised of India's strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh, it added.
