SAROJINI REVAMP AN NDMC IDEA, BJP LEADER SAYS

NEW DELHI: After the Delhi government announced names of five markets for redevelopment including Sarojini Nagar market, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) member and senior BJP leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal claimed the revamp was the brainchild of the council, which has discussed it several times.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is a member of the NDMC by virtue of being the New Delhi MLA.

“On November 28 the proposal for the redevelopment of Sarojini Nagar market was discussed in the council and all council members unanimously agreed a detailed project report should be put up before the council members...,” Chahal said in a statement.

Despite repeated attempts, there was no comment on the matter from the Delhi chief minister’s office.

NEW DELHI: At least three stations in Delhi recorded maximum temperatures of 46 degrees Celsius (°C) or higher on Monday as the heat kept up its vice grip on the city, even as the weather office predicted that this may change from Thursday, forecasting that a western disturbance may push the mercury down.

Safdarjung Delhi’s base weather station, on Monday recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7°C, marginally below the previous day’s reading of 43.9°C and four above the normal for this time of the year. Meanwhile, the minimum on Monday was 31.6°C, more than a degree below Sunday’s reading 32.8°C.

The Najafgarh station was Monday’s hottest, with a reading of 46.6°C. It was followed by Mungeshpur (46.3°C), Sports Complex (46°C), and the Ridge (45.5°C) stations.

A heatwave is declared in the plains when the maximum temperature is over 40°C and 4.5 degrees above normal, and a severe heatwave is declared when the temperature is above 40°C and 6.5 degrees above normal.

IMD’S weekly forecast said the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 43°C on Tuesday, with a partly cloudy sky expected. It also said there is a possibility of very light rain.

Strong surface winds (blowing at speeds of 25-35km/hour) are expected on Tuesday.

IMD officials have predicted a fall in maximum temperatures from Thursday on account of a western disturbance.

RK Jenamani, senior IMD scientist, said that temperatures in Delhi are expected to dip below 40 degrees from Thursday. “We will have some cloudy development on Tuesday, but the likelihood of rain and respite from the heat is expected from June 16. There will be a major source of relief from June 16 since the temperature is expected to go below 40°C. We will not see any major heat waves after that,” said Jenamani.