What's up with Delhi and NCR?
The 36th India International Trade Fair will centre around the 'Digital India' theme and will have Wi-Fi accessibility for better connectivity. Meanwhile, fireworks have been banned during Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations, keeping in mind severe pollution levels. In another news, weddings have been hit as a result of demonetization, as people are unable to pay in cash. Read all that's making news in Delhi.
Yesterday, markets remained unusually sombre in Chandni Chowk after news of Income Tax raids spread. Many shopkeepers kept shops closed due to shortage of notes of smaller denomination to give out change. Reports of raids by the tax department created panic among shopkeepers, who downed the shutters early. Business reportedly dipped by 80% due to unavailability of currency notes in the otherwise bustling market.
Jewellers and other shop owners in Sadar Bazar, closed shutters on Friday afternoon after rumors of impending IT raids. Raids have been conducted in other cities after it was reported that a large amount of black money was converted into gold bullion. Jewellers clarified that shops were closed to escape pressure to accept denotified money from customers and not from fear of raids.
The weekly plan to vacuum roads in order to curtail pollution has hit a roadblock. PWD could not vacuum the roads as it was unable to buy the machines. An official said that a shortage of companies, supplying these machines has been a major problem in making vacuuming a weekly affair. PWD has pushed the date to apply for road vacuuming machines' tender.
North Indian wedding celebrations have taken a hit after Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes were denotified by the government. People are facing trouble while paying for wedding arrangements and also while giving 'shagun' to the guests. A Noida resident had to borrow Rs.100 notes from relatives for paying the caterers, flower sellers and other arrangements. Many others are facing problems to keep the wedding going.
The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee has come forward to do their bit to check pollution in the city. The committee has decided to celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti in an eco-friendly manner by not using fireworks. A laser show on Sikh Gurus and Gurudwaras had been organized this year as part of celebrations. The committee has taken several green initiatives this year.
Activists blamed yesterday's massive fire in Shaheed Nagar on the administration's failure to curb unauthorized workshops. Activists claimed that there were over 250 unauthorized workshops operational in Shaheed Nagar alone. Till July 2016 officials had sealed almost 1000 units across Ghaziabad which again became operational by November. Ghaziabad's DM has now constituted a committee to survey areas where illegal units are operational.
The 36th India International Trade Fair will begin from Monday at Pragati Maidan. President Pranab Mukherjee is slated to inaugurate the fair which will be centered around the theme of 'Digital India'. The fair will be open to the general public from November 19. 280 companies from 24 countries will participate in the trade fair along with rural artisans and craft persons.
