Hyderabad

Hyderabad’s air pollution goes up by 18.6 per cent in 2023

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A study analysed PM 2.5 concentrations between 2019 and 2023 in India’s major state capitals, including Hyderabad, which face air pollution challenges

Published Date – 08:14 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


Hyderabad’s air pollution goes up by 18.6 per cent in 2023


New Delhi: Air pollution measured in PM 2.5 increased in four major cities compared to a year ago, an analysis by Respirer Reports has found.

The study analysed PM 2.5 concentrations between 2019 and 2023 in India’s major state capitals which face air pollution challenges.

In Hyderabad, PM 2.5 increased between 2019 and 2020 by 59 per cent, dipped slightly in 2021 by 2.9 per cent and considerably in 2022 by 29.1 per cent, but went up again in 2023 (by 18.6 per cent).

These are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Patna. Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata saw PM 2.5 levels higher in October 2023, compared to a year ago. Chennai was the least polluted, with a fall of over 23 per cent compared to a year ago.

Delhi’s PM 2.5 level in October 2023 was higher than a year ago, continuing a rising trend since 2021. It was the most polluted of the eight cities analysed here. The national capital saw a sharp rise in PM 2.5 levels between 2019 and 2020 by 32 per cent, a dip in 2021 by 43.7 per cent, and a steady increase in 2022 and 2023.

The air quality deteriorated by 4.4 per cent in the last year (2022-23), from 109.1 micrograms/cubic metre (μg/m3) to 113.9 μg/m3. The October 2023 level was 3.7 times the Central Pollution Control Board’s safe limit of 30 μg/m3 and 7.5 times the World Health Organisation’s safe limit of 15 μg/m3.

Mumbai saw a steady increase in October PM 2.5 levels from 2019 to 2023, signalling a significant deterioration in air quality. Last month, pollution spiked by over 42 per cent compared to October a year ago.

In earlier years, PM 2.5 shot up between 2019 and 2020 (by 54.2 per cent), fell slightly in 2021 (by three per cent) and 2022 (by 0.9 per cent).

In Hyderabad and Kolkata, October PM 2.5 levels went up in 2023 compared to 2022.

In Kolkata, PM 2.5 dipped between 2019 and 2020 by 26.8 per cent, went up in 2021 by 51.7 per cent, decreased in 2022 by 33.1 per cent and rose again in 2023 by 40.2 per cent. Four capitals saw a fall in October PM 2.5 levels between 2022 and 2023 — Lucknow, Patna, Bengaluru and Chennai.

In Lucknow and Patna, October PM 2.5 levels dropped between 2022 and 2023, holding on to gains from previous years. In Lucknow, PM 2.5 spiked between 2019 and 2020 by 55.2 per cent, dipped in 2021 by 53.4 per cent, went up again in 2022 by 6.2 per cent and fell again in 2023 by 0.9 per cent. In Patna, PM 2.5 fell between 2019 and 2020 by 14 per cent, dipped further in 2021 by 36.7 per cent, spiked significantly in 2022 by 47.7 per cent, then went down again in 2023 by 11.1 per cent.

In Bengaluru and Chennai, October PM 2.5 levels fell between 2022 and 2023. In Bengaluru, PM 2.5 increased significantly between 2019 and 2020 by 72.1 per cent, fell slightly in 2021 by 5.8 per cent, went up again in 2022 by 29.6 per cent and dipped once again in 2023 by 11.6 per cent. In Chennai, PM 2.5 increased between 2019 and 2020 by 43.2 per cent, fell in 2021 by 27.8 per cent, rose again in 2022 by 61.6 per cent and decreased in 2023 by 23.7 per cent.

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Process guidelines to make films disabled-friendly: Delhi HC 

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The court sought a status report from the central government after it was informed the draft guidelines are under consideration and the process of finalisation will take some time.

Published Date – 08:54 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


Process guidelines to make films disabled-friendly: Delhi HC 


New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre to put in public domain the draft guidelines for making the experience of watching films friendly for those with disabilities like hearing and visual impairment, and process them for due approval upon receiving comments from stakeholders.

The court sought a status report from the central government after it was informed the draft guidelines are under consideration and the process of finalisation will take some time.

“Let Ministry of Information and Broadcasting first publish the draft guidelines and after receiving stakeholder comments, process the guidelines for approval of ministry concerned. Let status report be filed on record,” ordered Justice Prathiba M Singh during a hearing held in the presence of sign language interpreters for hearing-impaired persons.

The court was hearing a petition by four people suffering from visual and hearing impairment who sought directions for making Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Pathaan”, accessible to them.

The four petitioners — a law student, two lawyers and a disability rights activist — have contended that under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (PWD Act), the government has to take measures to ensure access to content to those suffering from disabilities. While three of them are visually impaired, the fourth one is hearing impaired.

The petitioners have submitted that technology, including applications, was available to enable persons with visual and hearing impairment to enjoy a film in theatres if the producer shares the audio of the movie with them.

The court had earlier directed Yash Raj Films to provide Hindi subtitles and closed captions as well as audio description for the OTT release of film ‘Pathaan’ for the benefit of those suffering from visual and hearing impairment and batted for issuance of mandatory guidelines by the Centre.

The Centre Thursday told the court that several stakeholders including film producers have raised certain concerns with respect to the cost of such mandatory captioning etc, availability of technology, piracy as well as viewer experience in case of use of simultaneous sign language interpretation.

As far as costs are concerned, the court observed, the expenditure is not very high when compared to the budget of popular films and technology was also available.

For ‘Pathaan’, the cost for captions, audio description etc was was around 6 lakh, the court noted.

The court further recorded that as suggested by the petitioners’ lawyer Rahul Bajaj, who is visually impaired, the concerns over piracy through applications showcasing movies for the benefit of persons with disability may be addressed by allowing access to those with due PWD certificates.

During the hearing, Bajaj raised concern about the possible lack of accessability features in upcoming films until the mandatory guidelines are put in place.

The court said the petitioners were free to write to the producers, and in the absence of any positive response, they could file an application before it.

The matter would be heard next on January 31.

Hyderabad

KCR transformed Dharmapuri in nine years: Koppula Eshwar

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The Dharmapuri segment, which used to face severe scarcity for drinking and irrigable water, has overcome the problem with the construction of various irrigation projects

Published Date – 09:03 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


KCR transformed Dharmapuri in nine years: Koppula Eshwar


Jagtial: Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar thanked the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for transforming Dharmapuri constituency within a span of nine years.

Besides Dharmapuri temple town, the entire constituency comprising seven mandals was developed on all fronts. The Dharmapuri segment, which used to face severe scarcity for drinking and irrigable water, has overcome the problem with the construction of various irrigation projects.

The Chief Minister, who developed the state on all fronts, has also developed Dharmapuri temple town by sanctioning hundreds of crores.

Used to work as a Singareni worker, he grew to the present position only because of Chandrashekhar Rao, who gave him all opportunities. He would do more service to the people if he was elected in the coming elections.

The Minister made these comments while participating in Praja Ashirvada Sabha held in Dharmapuri on Thursday wherein the Chief Minister participated.

Sports

CWC 2023: India first team to qualify for semifinals after crushing Sri Lanka by 302 runs

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Mohammed Shami (5/18) and Mohammed Siraj (3/16) ran through the Sri Lanka batting line-up as the Islanders were bundled out for 55 in 19.4 overs while chasing 358

Published Date – 08:47 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


CWC 2023: India first team to qualify for semifinals after crushing Sri Lanka by 302 runs

India’s Mohammed Shami (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kasun Rajitha during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 2, 2023. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

Mumbai: India became the first team to qualify for the World Cup semifinals after beating Sri Lanka by a massive 302 runs here on Thursday.

Mohammed Shami (5/18) and Mohammed Siraj (3/16) ran through the Sri Lanka batting line-up as the Islanders were bundled out for 55 in 19.4 overs while chasing 358.

Kasun Rajitha top-scored for Sri Lanka with 14. Only two other Sri Lanka batters — Angelo Mathews (12) and Maheesh Theekshana (12 not out) — could reach double digits.

Earlier, sent in to bat, India amassed 357 for 8.

Virat Kohli (88 off 94 balls), Shubman Gill (92 off 92) and Shreyas Iyer (82 off 56) led India’s batting.

Ravindra Jadeja’s 35 off 24 balls pushed India past 350.

Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka was the stand out bowler for Sri Lanka ending with figures of five for 80 in 10 overs.

Brief Scores:
India: 357 for 8 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 88, Shubman Gill 92, Shreyas Iyer 82; Dilshan Madhushanka 5/80).
Sri Lanka: 55 all out in 19.4 overs (Kasun Rajitha 14; Mohammed Shami 5/18, Mohammed Siraj 3/16).

Hyderabad

Yet another faux pas from Rahul Gandhi; calls expansion joint a crack

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Rahul Gandhi apparently thought the expansion joints on the barrage were cracks and posing along with Revanth Reddy even posted a photograph with him pointing at one such “crack”

Published Date – 08:43 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


Yet another faux pas from Rahul Gandhi; calls expansion joint a crack

File Photo

Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again made himself the butt of jokes in Telangana on Thursday, this time by mistaking expansion joints on the Lakshmi Barrage at Meddigadda as cracks.

Gandhi, who has been trying to show the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project as a project ridden with corruption, had visited the Medigadda Barrage on Thursday after getting permission from the State police, obviously with the intention of getting some fodder to attack the BRS. Accompanied by TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, Gandhi ‘inspected’ the barrage, and soon after, posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying that cracks had developed in multiple pillars because of “shoddy construction with reports indicating that the pillars are sinking”.

The Congress leader apparently thought the expansion joints on the barrage were cracks and posing along with Revanth Reddy even posted a photograph with him pointing at one such “crack”. However, social media was soon to school the Congress leader on what the “crack” originally was. Expansion joints, which appear as a small gap on such concrete structures are what help the survive expansion in hot summers. The same principle is used for flyovers, railway tracks and bridges as well, he was told.

While it is not sure whether Gandhi consulted any experts before jumping to the “crack” conclusion, what he forgot was that a Central team of experts had recently examined the structure, after a pier sunk a bit, but did not flag cracks or any major damage to the structure as alleged by Gandhi.

While alleging “shoddy construction”, he also forgot that the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, of which the Lakshmi Barrage is part of, was recently recognised as an “enduring symbol of engineering progress and partnership” by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the United States of America’s oldest engineering society founded in 1852. This was after an ASCE delegation visited Telangana and toured the entire project.

The ASCE, one of the world’s oldest engineering societies, represents more than 1.5 lakh civil engineers from 177 countries. Whether Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy have more expertise on such engineering aspects than the experts of the ASCE is a moot point.

Hyderabad

Medak MP issues video statement: “I will be back in a week”

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In a video statement in which Kotha Prabhakar Reddy addressed the party cadre and leaders from his ICU bed at Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad, said he would return to the people in a week’s time

Published Date – 08:36 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


Medak MP issues video statement: “I will be back in a week”

Photo: X

Siddipet: In his first address to the public after the attack on him on October 30, Medak MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy informed the people of Dubbak that he was out of danger.

In a video statement in which he addressed the party cadre and leaders from his ICU bed at Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad, Prabhakar Reddy said he would return to the people in a week’s time. He asked the cadre not to worry about his condition saying that he was recovering with the blessings of God and the people of Dubbak.

Since a huge number of people were coming to the hospital every day to see him, Prabhakar Reddy asked them not to visit the hospital because it was troubling the staff and other patients.

Sports

Sachin or Smith? Wankhede’s statue sparks laughter on social media

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Cricket enthusiasts and fans have flooded social media with pictures of the statue, highlighting the resemblance to the Australian batsman.

Published Date – 08:27 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


Sachin or Smith? Wankhede’s statue sparks laughter on social media


Hyderabad: The Maharashtra Cricket Association unveiled a bronze statue of Sachin Tendulkar at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, which captures the legendary cricketer in his iconic lofted drive pose.

However, cricket fans have begun drawing comparisons between Sachin and Steve Smith, as upon closer examination, some believe the statue resembles the latter more than the former.

Cricket enthusiasts and fans have flooded social media with pictures of the statue, highlighting the resemblance to the Australian batsman.

As a result, Steve Smith began trending on various social media platforms. While some are poking fun at the statue, loyal fans of Sachin are expressing their dissent over its similarity to Smith.

Check out the pictures here:

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Man Points Gun At Bar Singer, Injures Himself: Mumbai Police

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Man Points Gun At Bar Singer, Injures Himself: Mumbai Police

The man is currently undergoing treatment, police said. (Representational)

Thane:

A 34-year-old man was injured after he accidentally fired from a revolver while trying to threaten a woman singer working at a bar in Navi Mumbai, police said on Wednesday.

The man, who worked as a fabricator in Badlapur area of Maharashtra’s Thane district, was in love with the 23-year-old woman since the last two years.

There was some dispute between them because of which the woman was not responding to his calls, senior police inspector Anil Patil from Panvel taluka police station said.

The man, in a fit of anger, went to the bar located at Kongaon in Panvel at around 1.15 am on October 28 and asked the woman why she was not responding to his calls.

He also pulled out a revolver and pointed at her. The man then accidentally fired from the gun and suffered injury in his abdomen, the official said.

He is currently undergoing treatment, the official said, adding that a case has been registered against him under Indian Penal Code sections 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and provisions of the Arms Act, the police added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Rajasthan: Gehlot plays down rumours of fresh tussle with Pilot, says all party leaders are ‘united’

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With the Congress delaying the publication of its list of candidates for the November 25 Assembly polls, rumours of a fresh flare-up between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have been gaining ground

Published Date – 05:56 PM, Thu – 19 October 23


Rajasthan: Gehlot plays down rumours of fresh tussle with Pilot, says all party leaders are ‘united’

File Photo

New Delhi: Playing down rumours of a fresh tussle with fellow Congress leader Sachin Pilot over the distribution of tickets for the ensuing Assembly elections, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said all party leaders were united ahead of the crucial electoral battle.

With the Congress delaying the publication of its list of candidates for the November 25 Assembly polls, rumours of a fresh flare-up between CM Gehlot and his former deputy have been gaining ground.

However, playing down speculations of a rift, which could potentially hurt the ruling Congress in the ensuing polls, Gehlot said at a press conference in the national capital, “We are all united. I have not opposed any (prospective) candidate (from Pilot’s coterie).” Expressing his desire to step down as chief minister before he rues or regrets his inability to do so, Gehlot said, “A woman once told me that, god willing, I should become the CM for the fourth time. I told her that I wish to step away as CM but the post is stuck with me.” Taking a dig at the BJP, which is bidding to return to the hustings in the state, the Rajasthan CM said the saffron party is envious of the party’s smooth decision-making.

“The BJP can’t take it that there are no differences in the Congress with regard to the selection of candidates. They are wondering why no differences are cropping up in the Congress? I am sure you are asking about Sachin Pilot. All decisions are being made by everyone’s opinion on board. I am personally involved in the decision-making to ensure that the views and opinions of Sachin Pilot’s supporters are considered and incorporated,” he said.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Congress’s Central Election Committee (CEC) held a meeting to finalise candidates for the November 25 Assembly elections and those for the remaining seats in neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

The meeting was chaired by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge at AICC headquarters in the national capital.

CM Gehlot, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and other members of the party’s election panel and the screening committees of poll-bound states were also present in the meeting.

The counting of votes for the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly, along with those for four other poll-bound states, has been scheduled for December 3.

Congress emerged as the largest single party in the 2018 Assembly polls, with 101 seats, and formed the government with the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

While the BJP has already put out its first list for the Rajasthan polls, which features as many as 7 sitting MPs, the Congress is yet to come out with its list of candidates.

Hyderabad

Tollywood assistant director killed in road accident in Hyderabad

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The victim T Shiva lost control over his motorcycle and rammed into a road divider at a high speed resulting in severe head injuries

Updated On – 08:17 PM, Thu – 2 November 23


Tollywood assistant director killed in road accident in Hyderabad

Representational Image.

Hyderabad: An assistant director who worked in Tollywood movies and serials died in a road accident at Raidurgam on Wednesday night.

According to the police, the victim T Shiva, a resident of Uppal was going from Raidurgam cross roads to BNR Hills around 1 am, and when he reached the LIDCAP Company he lost control over his motorcycle and rammed into a road divider at a high speed resulting in severe head injuries.

On information, the police reached the spot and rushed him to Osmania General Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. A case is registered and investigation going on.

“We suspect Shiva was driving at a high speed and lost control over his bike and rammed into the road median,” said Raidurgam sub inspector, V Srinivas.