India lays out red carpet for Olympic heroes; felicitated in grand ceremony by government
New Delhi: India's Olympic medal-winners were accorded a grand welcome by the government in a dazzling felicitation ceremony here on Monday with sports minister Anurag Thakur saying that their journey is an "incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence".
Gold medal winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the cynosure of all eyes in the ceremony at a five star hotel here, held a couple of hours after the seven podium finishers made their way out of the airport amid utter chaos.
At the felicitation ceremony, they were presented mementos and shawls by the minister. Both the bronze-winning men's hockey team and fourth-place finishing women's team cut cakes after arriving at the hotel.
While Chopra added the golden sheen to the campaign, the silver medals came from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya.
The bronze medals, apart from the men's hockey team, were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, and wrestler Bajrang Punia.
"I am very happy to be back home. I knew India is very happy but after coming back here, to get this love first hand, it feels really nice. I would try to do my best for more such medals," Borgohain said.
Sindhu and Chanu did not attend the ceremony as they had arrived earlier and are currently at their home bases.
"I only tried to give my best," said Punia, who fought through his semifinals without any protective gear on his injured knee.
Among those present on the occasion to felicitate the medal winners also included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Secretary (Sports) Ravi Mittal and Director-General of Sports Authority of India Sandip Pradhan.
"Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world even in sports," Thakur said.
"The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions. Team India excelled and inspired while Indians cheered and celebrated all around.
"Truly sports is a great unifier as our athletes come from villages and cities, north to south, from east to west. Their journey is an incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence," he added.
There were many firsts in India's campaign, including the biggest ever 128-member athlete contingent, seven Olympic Medals, first Olympic gold medal in an athletics event, two successive medals in consecutive Games by Sindhu, and a medal(bronze) by the Indian men's team in hockey after a gap of 41 years.
Also, the women's hockey team achieved its best ever fourth place finish in the Games.
"We will continue to support our sports persons and we endeavour to make India a sporting powerhouse," Thakur said.
The minister also lauded some close finishes including the fourth place finish by golfer Aditi Ashok.
Thakur's predecessor Rijiju praised the performances of all the athletes and reiterated that India will be a force to reckon with by the 2028 Olympics.
"This is just the beginning because India's resurgence in sport is visible now and I am confident that by 2028 Olympics India will be a force to reckon with, Rijiju mentioned.
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Pollution needs year-round action, says CM as Delhi gets six new air monitoring stations
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said pollution control requires sustained, year-round action, inaugurating six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) stations to expand real-time tracking of air quality across the capital.
She also flagged off 100 'Vayu Rakshak' vehicles for stricter monitoring, and enforcement of pollution control norms.
Addressing an event at the Delhi Secretariat, Gupta said the government is working towards comprehensive citywide monitoring and long-term policy action to address pollution at its source.
"Our aim is to ensure that for every 25 sq km area in Delhi, there is at least one air quality monitoring station so that we get complete and accurate data on pollution levels and their sources," she said.
The six new monitoring stations set up by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) are located at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Netaji Subhas University of Technology West Campus (Dwarka), CWD Akshardham, Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Delhi Cantt and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex at Talkatora Garden.
Gupta said Delhi currently has 46 air quality monitoring stations, and 14 additional stations will be installed in the coming phase to ensure full coverage of residential areas, industrial zones, traffic corridors and green belts.
"Pollution is not a seasonal problem. It requires 365-day caretaking, continuous monitoring and sustained action," she said, adding that air safety officers will be deployed for year-round supervision and enforcement.
The chief minister asserted that the government is working on strengthening pollution control across sectors, including transport, roads, waste management and green cover. "Clean air is a right, and we are committed to delivering it with seriousness and long-term planning," she said.
Highlighting the works undertaken, she said city has the highest number of electric buses in the country, with 4,200 vehicles currently operational. "By 2028, this number will increase to 14,000, which will significantly reduce vehicular emissions," she said.
Gupta stressed that the pollution checking infrastructure is being upgraded, with automated vehicle testing stations being developed and a new electric vehicle policy for private vehicles under preparation.
She described notification of large parts of the Delhi Ridge as forest land as a historic step. She said protecting green spaces is essential for improving Delhi's environmental health and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Criticising previous approaches, Gupta said earlier governments treated pollution as a short-term issue. Referring to measures such as smoke towers and odd-even schemes, she said these were "cosmetic solutions" that failed to address pollution at its root.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who also addressed the event, outlined further steps being taken by the government to strengthen pollution control and enforcement.
"To ensure strict monitoring, 100 'Vayu Rakshak' vehicles will be deployed across Delhi to check industrial, vehicular, hotel and institutional pollution," Sirsa said, adding that 100 permanent surveyors will also be appointed for year-round physical inspections.
He said the government has strengthened coordination among the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), CAQM and the Centre, leading to systematic monitoring and data-based policy planning.
Sirsa asserted that Delhi has also made progress in waste management, with around 85 per cent of the city's daily waste generation, around 12,500 metric tonnes, now being processed for energy production.
Referring to legacy waste, he said the present government inherited three garbage dumps spread over 202 acres and about 60 metres high.
"In just one year, garbage has been cleared from around 45 acres, and the height of the remaining dumps is being reduced," he said.
He also alleged that previous governments failed to address the core causes of pollution and instead resorted to blame-shifting.
"Everyone knows the reasons are road dust, vehicle emissions and garbage mountains but no serious work was done," Sirsa said.
