Delhi Pollution Worsens: Schools To Remain Shut For 3 Days

Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal announced a number of emergency measures to tackle the frightening pollution level and thick smog in the National Capital. The measures include a 3 days closure of schools and a 5 days ban on construction work in Delhi.

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal after coming out of the emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday said that the burning of crops in neighboring states was the main reason behind the alarming dip in Delhi’s air quality. He also mentioned that images from NASA’s Fire Mapper showed that the number of fires in Delhi’s neighboring states have also increased rapidly over the last week.

The India Meteorological Department, also known as Met Agency has reported that the wind levels would remain balmy and the temperature will continue to drop for the next two days. Both these conditions are conducive for accumulations of pollutants.

All this started on the next day after Diwali as, due to the moisture and low wind speeds, all the pollutants which came out of the firecrackers remained intact in the air.

Also Read: Pollution levels Increased By 17 Times In Delhi

Here are the decided measures that the Delhi Government has taken to tackle Delhi’s air pollution:

1. All schools will remain shut for the next 3 days.
2. Construction work is banned for the next 5 days.
3. The use of diesel generators has been banned for 10 days except in Hospitals and emergency cases.
4. Badarpur coal power plant will remain shut for the next 10 days.
5. The Government will supply power to all the unauthorized colonies that use diesel generators.
6. Roads will be vacuum cleaned from 10th November.
7. Water will be sprinkled at all Delhi roads from Monday.
8. Odd- Even rule will return, if needed.

Delhi Government also advised people to stay at home and should try to work from home to prevent themselves from breath related diseases. All the municipal corporations of Delhi have been ordered to ensure that the fire is immediately put out at all landfill sites.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) filed a plea in Supreme Court about Delhi Government’s noncompliance of the directives given by the apex court and the court will discuss this matter on Tuesday.

07 November 2016
Rohan Jaitly