All schools, colleges and educational institutions in Delhi-NCR have been directed to remain closed till further notice due to poor air quality. Such educational institutions, which were till now closed and started opening due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will have to go back to the online mode of education.
The Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) on Tuesday night issued a series of instructions to the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to deal with the air pollution crisis in Delhi and adjoining areas. This decision has been taken after an emergency meeting on Tuesday on the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR.
The directions given in the meeting have been implemented with immediate effect. The state governments are to file a compliance report in this regard on November 22. In a nine-page order issued by the CAQM, the NCR governments (Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) have been advised to allow at least 50 per cent of employees to work from home by November 21.
Apart from shutting down educational institutions, the CAQM has directed that at least 50 per cent of employees in government offices in Delhi-NCR be allowed to work from home till November 21. Private establishments should also be encouraged to implement it so that vehicular pollution can be reduced.
Trucks will not be allowed to enter Delhi till November 21, except for trucks carrying essential goods.
Barring exceptions, all construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR will remain suspended till November 21. These exceptions include-
– Railway services/stations
– Metro rail services including stations
– Airport and Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT)
– National security/defence-related activities and projects of national importance
There will be a strict investigation of polluting vehicles
The governments of Delhi-NCR have been explicitly asked to stop polluting vehicles and vehicles with valid Pollution Control (PUC) certificates. Along with this, teams of Traffic Task Force have been directed to be deployed for smooth movement of traffic.
Six of the eleven thermal plants located within a 300 km radius of Delhi have been directed to remain closed till November 30.
Delhi and its adjoining areas have been covered with a layer of toxic smog for more than ten days. Officials say that no improvement is expected in this for at least the next three days. The air quality index (AQI) of the capital remained in the 'very poor' and 'severe' category for several days.
