Air pollution levels creep up in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Air quality in Delhi and its suburbs deteriorated again overnight after a marginal improvement a day ago with forecasts suggesting that a major relief is unlikely in the coming days.
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 338 at 8 am on Monday, deteriorating from 301 at 4 pm and 290 at 7 am on Sunday.
The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday and 419 on Thursday.
Neighbouring Ghaziabad (306), Gurugram (239), Greater Noida (288), Noida (308) and Faridabad (320) also recorded a dip in air quality.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'.
The Centre on Saturday removed stringent curbs, including a ban on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi in view of a dip in air pollution levels due to favourable wind speed and direction.
These measures constitute the final stage -- Stage IV -- of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Area, a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, asked Delhi and NCR states to revoke all emergency measures, under which only CNG, electric and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states are allowed to enter Delhi, with exemptions granted to those involved in essential services.
All medium and heavy goods vehicles not engaged in essential services were also banned in the capital under Stage IV of GRAP.
According to the latest CAQM order, all other curbs under stages I, II and III of GRAP, including a ban on non-essential construction work, mining, stone crushers and diesel generators will continue.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday said that people should remain vigilant and adhere to pollution control measures.
He also recalled that the progress made just before Diwali due to rain and favourable meteorological conditions was compromised by people bursting firecrackers.
The minister confirmed that other restrictions under stages I, II and III of GRAP will continue in the capital.
The ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles will also continue, he said.
"We will reassess these restrictions if the situation continues to improve," the minister said.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System developed by the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, no major improvement in air quality is likely in the next few days.
Recent data from a joint project by the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, showed that vehicular emissions accounted for about 36 per cent of the capital's air pollution on Saturday and 38 per cent on Sunday.
Secondary inorganic aerosols -- particles such as sulfate and nitrate that are formed in the atmosphere due to the interaction of gases and particulate pollutants from sources like power plants, refineries and vehicles -- are the second major contributor to Delhi's foul air, accounting for 30 to 36 per cent of the air pollution in the city over the last few days.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mangaluru: Murder suspect on the run for 30 years arrested
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Oct 24: The Mangaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have nabbed a murder suspect who had been evading arrest for nearly 30 years, police said on Thursday.
The accused, involved in a murder and assault case near MRPL in the Surathkal police station limits, was finally captured after an intensive operation, they said.
As per the case details with the Surathkal police station, around 30 years ago, a murder and assault took place, police said.
According to police, the owner of Rakshak Industrial Security Institute, Abdullah, had hired five security guards for a Delhi-based company. On the night of March 12, 1995, at approximately 10:30 p.m., security guards Suresh, Narayan, and Devanna were on duty at the site when three unknown individuals approached.
ALSO READ: Man dies after snake bite in Manjeshwar
The guards questioned their presence at that late hour, leading to an altercation. Two of the individuals attacked the security guards, resulting in the death of Narayan, who sustained severe injuries. The Surathkal police registered a case in connection with the incident, back then, a senior police official said.
On the same night, two of the suspects, identified as Achhan Kunju and Jose Kutty, were involved in a separate altercation with some labourers near the canteen at the MRPL site, he said.
When Thomas, a relative of the suspects, tried to intervene and stop the fight, he was attacked with an iron rod. Thomas was later admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, he said.
A case was filed against Achhan Kunju and Jose Kutty for this incident as well. These same suspects were later involved in the attack and murder of security guard Narayan, the official said.
Despite the police's efforts to gather information and apprehend the suspects over the years, they managed to remain at large, he said.
After committing the crime, the suspects fled to Kerala and then went into hiding in various states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. An arrest warrant had been issued against them, he added.
Achhan Kunju passed away approximately eight years ago. However, the other suspect, Jose Kutty, continued to evade capture, police said.
For the past four months, the Mangaluru CCB police had been gathering intelligence on his whereabouts, they said.
On October 23, they arrested Jose Kutty Pappachan (55), son of Pappachan from Thrippunithura, in Kerala's Ernakulam and handed him over to Surathkal Police Station for further proceedings, the official added.
