In a significant move to enhance the living conditions of residents in Delhi, Chief Minister Atishi announced that no No Objection Certificate (NOC) will be required for applying for electricity metres in the 1,731 unauthorised colonies across the national capital. This decision aims to streamline access to electricity and alleviate the challenges faced by residents living in these areas.
The Chief Minister shared her observations about the situation in unauthorised colonies, noting that ten years ago, these areas were in dire need of basic amenities and services.
Since then, the government has worked tirelessly to improve infrastructure and provide essential facilities to the people living in these colonies. This latest announcement is part of ongoing efforts to empower these communities.
Atishi criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the obstacles residents faced when trying to secure electricity connections over the past year. She pointed out that a directive from the Central government’s Delhi Development Authority (DDA) mandated that residents of unauthorised colonies obtain an NOC before they could receive a power connection.
This requirement created significant hardships, forcing residents to navigate bureaucratic hurdles and, in some cases, pay bribes to acquire the necessary documents. By eliminating the need for an NOC, the Delhi government hopes to make the process of obtaining electricity metres much more accessible.
The Chief Minister assured the public that orders have already been issued to the electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) to facilitate this change. This decision marks a crucial step toward ensuring that residents in unauthorised colonies receive the electricity services they need without unnecessary complications.
In addition to this announcement, the Delhi government is actively working on improving the city's air quality. On the previous day, CM Atishi chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the implementation of measures under the Graded Response Action Plan-1 (GRAP-1).
The aim is to tackle the persistent air quality issues that have plagued Delhi for years. The meeting included discussions with Environment Minister Gopal Rai and senior officials, focusing on strategies to control pollution in the city.
As part of the air quality improvement initiative, 99 teams will be deployed to inspect construction sites to ensure compliance with dust control regulations.
The government plans to utilise a significant number of anti-smog guns, with 200 units to be operated by the Public Welfare Department (PWD), 30 by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), 14 by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), and 80 by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). These efforts aim to mitigate dust pollution and enhance the overall air quality in the capital.
Additionally, the Delhi Police will assign extra personnel to traffic-prone areas to manage congestion and emissions more effectively. Home Guards will also be on standby to assist in controlling pollution-related incidents.
CM Atishi encouraged residents to contribute to air quality improvement by adopting environmentally friendly practices. She urged people to carpool whenever possible, avoid burning crackers and waste, and report pollution incidents using the Green Delhi app.
Highlighting the positive developments in air quality this year, the Chief Minister stated that from January 1 to October 12, Delhi experienced 200 days with good air quality index (AQI) readings.
This marks a significant improvement compared to previous years, demonstrating the effectiveness of the pollution control measures implemented by the government and the collective efforts of the city's residents.
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