Ritam Halder

Ritam Halder has been a journalist for nearly a decade and has worked in multiple roles across organisations. He has been a features writer, a digital journalist as well as a desk hand. He now covers environment, water and urban issues in Delhi.

Articles by Ritam Halder

Delhi Budget goes green, focus more on cleaner fuel, electric buses

The AAP government plans to roll out 1,000 fully electric buses, ‘the highest fleet of electric buses in any city or state in India, and in fact, by any city in the world outside of China’.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses the media after the budget presentation on Thursday.(Sonu Mehta/HT File Photo)
Updated on Mar 22, 2018 11:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By

Delhi eyes tailor-made 72-hour pollution prediction tool

According to a senior Delhi government official, the project, which might be part of the 2018-19 green budget, is expected to be up and running by October 2018.

The Delhi government is all set to put in place a pollution prediction model, which will give air quality forecasts for up to 72 hours.
Updated on Mar 21, 2018 11:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

No contradiction in odd-even orders of EPCA and NGT, says SC-appointed pollution panel

In the GRAP stock-taking meeting last Wednesday, government officials asked the pollution panel to clarify its stance regarding the road-rationing scheme and whose orders (the EPCA or the NGT) should the agencies follow.

The odd-even scheme, a system designed to reduce pollution, allows vehicles to ply on odd and even dates based on the last number of their licence plates(Hindustan Times)
Updated on Mar 06, 2018 01:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

EPCA to write to Haryana, UP to speed up process of adding air pollution monitoring stations

In a meeting, on Wednesday, on the graded response action plan implementation, it was decided that EPCA chairman Bhure Lal will write to the chief secretaries of these states, pointing out the missed deadlines and asking them to expedite the process

Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida will be installing more air pollution monitoring stations(Sakib Ali/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Mar 05, 2018 02:40 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Curbing industrial pollution in Delhi-NCR should be top priority: SC body

Last October, the Supreme Court had banned two cheap but highly polluting industrial fuels — furnace oil and petroleum coke, commonly called pet coke, and directed Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to notify the ban immediately

EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal has already written to all four NCR states to make sure that industries either move to gas or set up pollution control equipment for NOx and SOx.(HT Photo)
Updated on Mar 01, 2018 12:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | ByRitam Halder & Joydeep Thakur, New Delhi

New in Connaught Place: Smart poles to track air quality, provide Wi-Fi, keep watch

In the first phase, smart poles are being installed in Connaught Place, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Sansad Marg, Janpath, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Marg and nearby areas.

A smart pole installed by NDMC at KG Marg in New Delhi.(Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Feb 23, 2018 12:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

NDMC primary schools to get smart classes from next academic session

The classes will be equipped with CCTV cameras, LEDs and other required infrastructure like smart board, which will help the teachers to impart lessons through digital tools.

A smart class in Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya at Rouse Avenue in New Delhi.(Sonu Mehta/HT FILE)
Updated on Feb 21, 2018 09:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Now anti-smog gun for PWD roads in Delhi: Innovation or eyewash?

When the machine was used last time in December, the Central Pollution Control Board had given an adverse report about it.

The anti-smog gun was flagged by Delhi environment minister Imran Hussain on Monday.(Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Feb 20, 2018 02:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

Vintage cars and bikes pay tribute to golden era of automotive industry

125 vintage cars and 35 vintage two wheelers gathered at a corner of India Gate as part of the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally & Concours Show 2018

People drive around as part of a vintage car rally at India Gate on Saturday. Starting from India Gate, the cars reached Gurgaon, where they will be showcased till Sunday(Anushree Fadnavis/HT PHOTO)
Published on Feb 17, 2018 11:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

1933 Minerva to 1965 Ford Mustang: Vintage cars to roll down Delhi’s roads after 3 yrs

After a gap of three years, car collectors in the capital again have permission to show off their collections with NGT allowing vintage cars to ply for rallies, exhibitions with a few rides.

Diljeet Titus, a lawyer and collector of classic and vintage cars, at his Jaunpur farmhouse near Chhattarpur in New Delhi.(Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Feb 09, 2018 12:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Ten basements sealed in Connaught Place over illegal commercial use

New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) president Atul Bhargava said basements are supposed to be storage units but some establishments were using them for commercial purposes.

A sealed office in N- Block, Connaught Place, on Wednesday.(Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Feb 07, 2018 11:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

9 days and counting: Water crisis due to alarming ammonia levels continues in Delhi

The level of ammonia in the Yamuna water has shot up to 2.23 parts per million (ppm) when the safe limit is 0.2 ppm. The Delhi Jal Board is equipped to treat up to 0.9 ppm of ammonia level in water.

Water supply has been affected in all parts of the city except in east Delhi where water is sourced from the Upper Ganga Canal.(Sonu Mehta/HT FILE)
Updated on Feb 07, 2018 05:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

North Delhi civic body to buy 5 more mechanical sweepers to curb road dust

The proposal to procure five more mechanical sweepers was made by NDMC while presenting its budget for 2018-19.

Delhi L-G Anil Baijal had asked all three municipal commissioners to procure requisite mechanical sweepers, litter pickers, water sprinklers within a stipulated time.(HT FILE)
Updated on Feb 01, 2018 03:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Experts go deeper into Delhi for micro-action to fight pollution

Based on an analysis of pollution recorded at 20 new monitoring stations across the city, govt will take take ‘micro-level’ and targeted action to combat pollution.

The study will be used to prepare local-level action plan to check pollution levels at the city’s foul air pockets.(Burhaan Kinu/HT File)
Updated on Jan 27, 2018 03:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

NDMC to count its vintage trees to keep track of green cover in central Delhi

The proposed tree census will capture scientific and popular names, girth at breast height, height, crown area and GPS location of trees on main roads in areas under New Delhi Municipal Council

The NDMC area, a VIP zone in the city’s heart, is home to a mere 1.5% of the Capital’s 16.78 million people and covers just 3% of the city. But it has nearly 50% green cover of Delhi.(Mayank Austen Soofi / HT Photo)
Updated on Jan 16, 2018 10:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Parking space to be added in Connaught Place, Khan Market

An underground mechanical car parking at Khan Market and a 245-car capacity lot at Janpath are being planned.

A new 245-car capacity lot at Janpath will cater to Connaught Place visitors.
Updated on Jan 16, 2018 06:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

Delhi wakes up to foggy morning

The fog disrupted train services and sparked a spike in air pollution on Saturday.

File photo of commuters riding through thick of fog in New Delhi.(HT PHOTO)
Published on Jan 13, 2018 10:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By

16 outlets face NDMC action on Day 2 of Khan Market sealing drive

Sealing only in conducted in sections of outlets not in compliance with civic norms, not entire establishments, say officials.

Police and NDMC officials in Khan Market on Tuesday.(Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)
Published on Jan 09, 2018 11:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

Delhi’s pollution hotspots: Mathura Road running out of breath

Part 1 of 5: Choked roads, ongoing construction and nearby industries, have turned one of Delhi’s arterial stretches — Matura Road — into a new pollution hotspot

Mathura Road — from Ashram to Sarita Vihar — has emerged as one of the new pollution hotspots in Delhi.(Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Jan 12, 2018 10:19 AM IST
Hindustan Times | By

By March 15, all industrial units in Delhi will switch to PNG: Govt tells EPCA

EPCA chairman Bhure Lal had raised the issue of industries running in Badli, Bawana, Narela and DTU areas causing air pollution in a meeting with Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on December 7.

In the EPCA meeting, it was also suggested that generators should be allowed to run if they use gas as fuel.(Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)
Updated on Jan 04, 2018 01:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

‘Tough pill to swallow’: What forced Delhi Jal Board to hike water tariff

Delhi Jal Board on Tuesday hiked water tariff by 20% for those using more than 20,000 litres a month. The new tariff will come into effect from February 1 next year. This is the second hike in water tariff since AAP came to power in 2015

Delhi Jal Board that supplies water to households in the capital has faced a revenue loss of Rs 516 crore in 2016-2017.(HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 27, 2017 03:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | ByRitam Halder & Ashish Mishra, New Delhi

Delhi water tariff hiked by 20% for consumption above 20000 litres, effective from Feb 1

This is the second time that the AAP government, which came to power in Delhi in 2015 with the promise of free water and electricity, has hiked the water tariff.

Women waiting with cans for a water tanker in Delhi’s East Patel Nagar in May 2017.(Sonu Mehta/HT File Photo)
Updated on Dec 26, 2017 10:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Delhi | ByRitam Halder and Ashish Mishra

Need strong measures like Beijing, Paris for odd-even drive in Delhi, says SC panel

In Beijing, violation of odd-even rules can cost you your auto insurance for a year. In Paris, violators face heavy on-the-spot fines.

At a recent meeting with authorities of Delhi-NCR, EPCA had said that whenever the air quality stays at “emergency” levels for 48 hours, tougher measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will kick in automatically.(Ravi Choudhary/ / HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 11:58 AM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Is Khan Market next? Traders anxious over sealing drive in Delhi markets

Armed with a Supreme Court order and backed by the apex court-appointed committee, civic agencies are on a warpath against property owners running commercial establishments without paying conversion charges.

A restaurant sealed by South Delhi Municipal Corporation in Defence Colony on December 22.(Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 26, 2017 05:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

Polluting brick kilns to shut down for good after June 2018: EPCA

Officials estimate that there are currently around 2,080 brick kilns in Delhi-NCR, including 700 in Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Hapur districts.

Officials estimate that there are currently around 2,080 brick kilns in Delhi-NCR, including 700 in Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Hapur districts.
Updated on Dec 24, 2017 10:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

Delhi won’t wait for EPCA order to take emergency measures when air goes foul again

Air pollution: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee will issue an alert immediately to all departments concerned

Indian residents walk amid heavy smog at India Gate in New Delhi.(AFP)
Updated on Dec 22, 2017 08:51 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

Delhi Technological University area is the next ‘air pollution hotspot’

According to Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority chairman Bhure Lal, this corner of the city has been consistently showing high pollution levels.

The Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar near DTU is also in a bad condition as there are no pavements and thus increasing dust pollution.(Sanchit Khanna/HT file)
Updated on Dec 21, 2017 12:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi

What is an anti-smog cannon? Delhi is counting on it to reduce air pollution

The anti-smog cannon will be used throughout the day with the monitoring station at Anand Vihar observing any changes in Delhi pollution levels. Here’s how it works

On Monday evening, the functioning of the machine was demonstrated to deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and environment minister Imran Hussain.(Joydeep Thakur / HT Photo)
Updated on Dec 20, 2017 05:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | ByJoydeep Thakur and Ritam Halder

Super Zoo Zoo to make its debut as Comic Con returns to Delhi this weekend

Among the special attractions this year will be Super Zoo Zoo, the popular Vodafone mascot, that will make its Comic Con debut. Pass holders this year will also receive exclusive Archie titles with a customized Delhi city cover.

According to organisers, Delhi Comic Con 2017 will be much bigger and better with a range of new activities.(Photo: Sourced)
Updated on Dec 14, 2017 01:40 PM IST
Hindustan Times | By

Delhi Jal Board to send notices to govt depts over pending water bills of R3,220 crore

According to a senior Delhi government official, the decision was taken by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the state’s water minister, after a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials at his residence on Saturday.

According to a senior Delhi government official, the decision was taken by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the state’s water minister, after a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials at his residence on Saturday.(AFP)
Published on Dec 10, 2017 12:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
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