New Delhi: In the wake of recent power outages in the city, Delhi government on Wednesday asked the petroleum ministry to divert gas supply meant for Pragati power plant to the newly-constructed Bawana power plant as it has more efficient machinery. The proposal, which has been approved “in principal” by the petroleum ministry, will increase power supply in Delhi by upto 60 MW. Sources said the efficiency of Bawana plant is upto 25 per cent more than the Pragati plant.

“Since we do not know by when other power plants like Dadri will start functioning back to capacity, we decided to use all our resources and have a makeshift arrangement to solve the ongoing power problem,” Delhi Power Minister Haroon Yusuf said.

New Delhi: When was the last time winter in Delhi was as harsh and as long as this? This bone-rattling spell that began on New Year’s Eve hasn’t had a parallel since 1973 — the year since when continuous daily temperature records could be accessed and analysed.

For nine straight days since December 31, the capital hasn’t seen temperatures rise above 16 degrees Celsius and the minimum has remained below 6 degrees. Taking these two temperature limits as cutoff, TOI sifted through data for the past 40 years. No other unbroken spell of biting chill — both minimum and maximum temperatures staying this low — had sustained for as long as this, it was found.

Not satisfied with the Delhi Jal Board’s explanation that private companies are being roped in to “enhance services and reduce non-revenue water”, a non-government organisation, Water Privatisation-Commercialisation Resistance Committee, has torn into the arguments and called for an open debate and discussion on the issue of initiating public private partnership programmes in the city.

The DJB has decided to initiate PPP programmes in three areas of the city to streamline distribution and revenue collection. The areas are Malviya Nagar, Vasant Vihar and Nangloi.

As the temperature dipped in the city, thousands of homeless people continued to sleep in the open as the Delhi government has failed to provide enough night shelters for them. The city government claims that they have enough night shelters for around 10,000 homeless but the number of total homeless persons in the city is 56,000 as per data provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

However, urban development minister said that temporary night shelters will be constructed near the overcrowded night shelters.

New Delhi: Soon, Delhiites will have to pay more for parking in public places. The BJPled municipal corporations plan to double the parking rates — from Rs 10 for the entire day to Rs 20 for three hours. The move comes despite BJP promising in its 2012 municipal election manifesto that it will not increase taxes.

Sources said the party is compelled to do so as all the three corporations are facing a financial crunch. Senior BJP councilors of the three corporations will soon hold a meeting with Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta to finalize the rates, they added.

New Delhi: Taking note of the TOI report on excessive pruning of trees in Vasant Kunj, the forest department carried out a survey of the area on Sunday.

In its preliminary investigation is has found that several trees have been cut more than what the forest had issued permission for. The municipal corporation has also auctioned off the wood in violation of standing orders that say wood from pruned or felled trees has to be taken to crematoria. “Based on our findings we will be sending an advisory to the municipal corporation, asking how its horticulture department is so unaware of the proper procedure for pruning and why auctioning of wood is being carried out in violation of rules

In a move that could be perceived as reneging on its election manifesto, two BJP-ruled civic agencies may increase parking charges in the city.

In the manifesto, the party had promised that it would not impose additional taxes on residents, but the corporations may increase parking charges in their budget. North Municipal Corporation Leader of House Mahendra Nagpal said representatives of three corporations will meet to decide on the hike. “We will keep parking rates uniform across the city. It has been duly decided to keep the rates uniform in corporations,” Mahendra Nagpal said.

Delhiites woke up to another freezing day on Monday as icy winds swept the Capital at regular intervals bringing the minimum temperature down to 2.4 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal and barely a few notches above Sunday’s 1.9, the season’s lowest so far.

“It is so cold at night and early morning these days that it is a task to go outdoors before 11 a.m. and report for work,” said a beautician in Connaught Place. The maximum temperature was 13.4 degrees Celsius, a crawl above Sunday’s 11.8 degrees Celsius, but still seven degrees below normal.

Intense cold continued to trouble Delhiites as icy winds refused to subside and the minimum temperature reached the season’s lowest, settling at a chilling 1.9 degree Celsius.

Weather woes continued unabated for people in the North. Cold winds pulled the minimum temperature on Sunday down to a new low at 1.9 degree Celsius.