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New Delhi: Delhi government announced that private as well as government schools will be closed down for the next two days due to a sudden dip in air quality in Delhi. Thus, the schools will remain shut on Friday (November 3) and Saturday (November 4). Neighbouring Gurugram has also taken measures to counter pollution.
Taking to social media platform X to announce the decision, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “In light of the rising pollution levels, all govt and private primary schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 2 days.
In a separate communication, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said physical classes in its schools will remain closed for the next two days. A Central pollution control panel has banned non-essential construction activity in the National Capital Region – which includes Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram. The entry of diesel trucks into the city has also been banned.
In a statement,the civic body said, “In pursuance to order of Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, it is decided that classes will be held through online mode in all MCD and MCD-aided schools on November 3 and 4. However, schools will remain open for teachers and staff.”
Offical said that Delhi Metro will run 20 extra train trips across its network starting November 3 in view of the measures taken by pollution control authorities on Thursday to encourage more and more people to use public transport in Delhi and neighbouring cities. Gurugram District Magistrate has banned burning waste materials, such as garbage, leaves, plastic, and rubber under a law that makes it a punishable offence.
The DMRC said in a statement, “In view of the implementation of GRAP-III stage to combat pollution in Delhi, the DMRC will be further adding 20 extra trips across its network starting tomorrow i.e, 3rd November 2023 (Friday).”
Delhi Metro is already running 40 additional train trips on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from October 25 onwards when GRAP-II stage had come into force. It added, “Thus, from tomorrow, the DMRC will be running a total of 60 additional trips as part of its measures taken under GRAP to encourage more and more people to use public transport in Delhi-NCR.”
Delhi’s pollution levels hit the “severe” mark yesterday for the first time this season, standing at 402 at 5 pm. Scientists have warned of further spike over the next two weeks. At least 18 out of 37 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) in the “severe” category. Earlier, Centre imposed Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as the air quality in the city deteriorated and entered the ‘severe’ category. Under the GRAP stage III, non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR has been banned along with a ban on the entry of diesel-guzzling trucks into the capital.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 343 on Thursday (November 2) morning bringing the air quality under the ‘very poor’ category for the fifth day in a row. As per the SAFAR-India, the city’s AQI has been in the ‘very poor’ category since Sunday (309). Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting on Friday to discuss the implementation of stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan. “A meeting of all concerned departments has been called on Friday at 12 pm to discuss the effective implementation of stage III of GRAP,” he told media.
