Air quality in NCR oscillates between 'very poor' and 'severe'
Noida (UP): The air quality slipped to the "severe" category in Ghaziabad, while it remained "very poor" in Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar in the National Capital Region on Saturday, according to a government agency
The concentration of major air pollutants PM2.5 and PM10 during the morning hours largely remained in the "severe" category in the four neighboring districts of Delhi, according to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to the index, 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', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
In Ghaziabad, an AQI of 412 was recorded at Loni station, followed by 363 at Vasundhara, 360 at Sanjay Nagar, 358 at Indirapuram, according to the CPCB data at 8 pm.
In Gautam Buddh Nagar's Noida, the AQI was 360 at Sector 62, 356 at Sector 1, and 315 in Sector 116. The station at Sector 125 showed "insufficient" data for the last 24 hours.
In Greater Noida, an AQI of 391 was recorded at Knowledge Park V and 342 at Knowledge Park III, according to the CPCB figures.
In Gurgaon, an AQI of 379 was recorded at the station in Sector 51 followed by 342 at Teri Gram, 329 at Vikas Sadan, and 266 at NISE Gwal Pahari, the CPCB data showed.
In Faridabad, the AQI was recorded 380 at New Industrial Town at 8 pm followed by 368 at Sector 11, 364 at Sector 30, and 324 at Sector 16A.
The concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad around 10 am was near or upwards of 400, in the "severe" category, according to the CPCB data.
Prolonged exposure to "very poor" air quality can lead to respiratory illnesses. "Severe" air quality also affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing ailments.
The air quality has been worsening even as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) from October 15 to check air pollution, which spikes around this time of the year.
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NIA court to complete framing of charges against 2010 hand-chopping case accused on May 15
Kochi (PTI): A special court here will complete proceedings for framing charges against the prime accused in the 2010 hand-chopping case involving professor T J Joseph, in which PFI activists were accused of attacking him at Muvattupuzha.
Ernakulam Special Court for NIA cases judge P K Mohandas, on April 30, heard the arguments of counsel for accused Savad and Shafeer C and decided to proceed with framing charges against the duo.
A group chopped off Thodupuzha Newman College professor Joseph's right hand in July 2010, accusing him of religious blasphemy in a question paper he had prepared.
The case, later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), resulted in the conviction of 19 accused.
The first accused, Savad, who allegedly chopped off Joseph’s palm, was arrested in Berram in Mattannur, Kannur, in January 2024, where he had allegedly been hiding under the pseudonym Shajahan.
The NIA also arrested Shafeer, who allegedly arranged shelter and provided logistical support to Savad at Chakkad and Mattannur in Kannur since 2020.
On April 30, the court heard the counsel for the accused and the NIA prosecutor on framing charges against the duo.
"On going through the documents and evidence in the case and on hearing the counsel for the accused and the prosecutor, I am of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that the first accused has committed offences punishable under provisions of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and that the second accused has committed offences punishable under the IPC and the UAPA, and there are materials for framing charges under these provisions against the accused," the court said.
The court directed that Savad be produced and Shafeer, who is on bail, appear before it on May 15 for recording their pleas as part of the charge-framing process.
After framing the charges, the court will schedule the trial in the case.
