Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday slammed the BJP-led Centre, claiming that it has sent the Enforcement Directorate to the premises of a person who is handling the record of his election expenditure. He termed the move an attempt to scare the people of his constituency.

Mr Baghel represents the Patan assembly seat in the Durg district.

According to sources, the ED launched a raid at the premises of Suresh Dhingani, a fireworks trader, in the Bhilai area of Durg district this morning. However, it is not yet known in connection with which case the action is being taken.

Reacting to the action, Baghel said on X, “I thought the exit poll of the first phase would be known after a few days. But Saheb revealed it this morning itself.” “Early in the morning, the ED has been sent to the place of Suresh Dhingani ji who had accompanied me when I filed my nomination papers and has been acting as my ‘adhikarik vyay lekhak’ (official handling poll expenditure records) in the electoral process,” Baghel said.

मुझे लगा था पहले चरण का एक्ज़िट पोल कुछ दिनों बाद पता चलेगा.
लेकिन साहेब ने आज सुबह ही बता दिया, सुबह-सुबह ED को मेरे नामांकन के दौरान मेरे साथ उपस्थित एवं मेरी निर्वाचन प्रक्रिया में आधिकारिक व्यय लेखक की भूमिका निभा रहे श्री सुरेश धिंगानी जी के यहाँ ED को भेज दिया है.

पाटन…

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) November 8, 2023

“This attempt to scare the people of Patan assembly would have failed in the same way as BJP faced in voting on 20 seats yesterday. Saheb, don’t consider Chhattisgarhiya people weak and cowardly. They eat their rice, that too with full self-respect.’ Baat hai abhimaan ke, Chhattisgarhiya ke swabhiman ke’ (it’s a matter of pride, self-respect of Chhattisgarhiya),” the CM added.

Polling for the first phase of the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly was held on Tuesday in 20 seats, while the remaining 70 segments will see voting in the second phase on November 17.

The Committee of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining Areas in its report filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stated that the state government of Punjab and various administrative agencies under it need to strictly and effectively implement the various components of the action plan to drastically bring down stubble burning cases.

In its report, the Committee of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas stated, “At this critical juncture when the paddy stubble burning incidents are at their peak, the State government of Punjab and various administrative agencies under it need to strictly and effectively implement the various components of the action plan to drastically bring down stubble burning cases in areas where paddy harvest/management of paddy straw is still underway.”

The report also stated that, apart from various meetings held earlier, another detailed review of the status of implementation of the respective plans for prevention and control of paddy stubble burning in the States of Punjab and Haryana was conducted by the Commission on November 2, 2023, and November 3, 2023, respectively.

The performance of these two states, including district-wise performance in this regard, was comprehensively reviewed with the Chief Secretaries, the Secretaries in charge of the Department(s) concerned and the Deputy Commissioners. They were appropriately impressed upon the compelling necessity to intensify various measures listed in the plans with respect to stricter monitoring and enforcement, including effective in-situ and ex-situ management measures in areas where the harvest is yet to be completed, the report mentioned filed in NGT.

The Commission has been keeping a close watch on the fire counts being reported on account of paddy stubble burning, as per the protocol developed by ISRO, further adding to the commission report.

The Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, on October 20, 2023, took suo moto cognisance of newspaper reports published in regard to the rising air pollution in Delhi and Punjab.

The tribunal had directed and sought action taken by the Punjab Pollution Control Board as well as by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining areas on the last date of the hearing.

Recently, the Tribunal has also issued notice to the Chief Secretaries of the States where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has dipped to severe, very poor and poor categories. They are directed to take immediate remedial action and submit the action taken report before the Tribunal, including Delhi.

While seeking a response, the Tribunal observed that immediate action was required. Serious conditions are reflected in various cities in the air quality bulletins. Hence, immediate action is required for the prevention and control of air pollution in these cities so as to ensure better air quality for the residents.

Noting the seriousness of the issue, NGT has impleaded the Chief Secretaries of the concerned States, Chairman, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Member Secretary, CPCB, and National Task Force through its head secretary, MoEF&CC, as parties in the case and sought their responses and directed them to take remedial action and submit an action taken report reflecting compliance of directions issued by the Tribunal from time to time in this regard.

The ongoing El Nino event is expected to last at least until April 2024, influencing weather patterns and contributing to a further spike in temperatures on land and over the ocean, according to a new update from the World Meteorological Organisation.

The India Meteorological Department earlier this month said EL Nino conditions — abnormal warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean — are not likely to influence the southwest monsoon season next year.

Amid intensifying El Nino conditions, India received “below-average” cumulative rainfall — 820 mm compared to the long-period average of 868.6 mm — during the southwest monsoon season this year.

As of mid-October, sea surface temperatures and other atmospheric and oceanic indicators in the central-eastern tropical Pacific are consistent with El Nino, the warm phase of El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

The El Nino event developed rapidly during July-August and reached moderate strength by September, and is likely to peak as a strong event in November 2023 to January 2024. There is a 90 per cent likelihood it will persist throughout the upcoming northern hemisphere winter/southern hemisphere summer, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said in a statement.

Based on historical patterns and current long-range predictions, it is anticipated the El Nino event will gradually diminish during the forthcoming boreal spring, said the WMO update, which combines forecasts and expert guidance from around the world.

El Nino occurs every two to seven years on average and typically lasts nine to 12 months. It is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. But it takes place in the context of a climate being changed by human activities.

“El Nino impacts on global temperature typically play out in the year after its development, in this case in 2024. But as a result of record high land and sea-surface temperatures since June, the year 2023 is now on track to be the warmest year on record. Next year may be even warmer. This is clearly and unequivocally due to the contribution of the increasing concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from human activities,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas.

“Extreme events such as heat waves, drought, wildfires, heavy rain and floods will be enhanced in some regions, with major impacts. That is why WMO is committed to the Early Warnings for All initiative to save lives and minimise economic losses,” he said.

The previous warmest year on record was 2016 due to a “double whammy” of an exceptionally strong El Nino and climate change.

A strong El Nino does not necessarily mean strong El Nino impacts locally.

El Nino, however, is not the only factor that drives global and regional climate patterns and the magnitudes of El Nino indicators do not directly correspond to the magnitudes of their effects. No two El Nino events are alike.