New Delhi: Schools, colleges and educational institutions in the National Capital Region will remain closed until further orders, allowing only online mode of education, as per the direction of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Additionally, only five of the 11 thermal power plants located within 300 km radius of Delhi – NTPC, Jhajjar; Mahatma Gandhi TPS, CLP Jhajjar; Panipat TPS, HPGCL; Nabha Power Ltd. TPS, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo TPS, Mansa – will remain operational till November 30.
The commission directed Delhi and the NCR states to stop construction and demolition activities in the region till November 21. Railway, metro, road transport and defence constructions will be allowed in compliance with dust control norms.
Till Sunday, trucks carrying non-essential items have also been banned from entering Delhi. NCR state governments have been directed to allow work from home for at least 50 percent of their staff. All these steps came ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the matter.
“In the meeting, Delhi government officials suggested implementing work from home policy in Delhi-NCR, ban on construction work and ban on industries so that pollution levels can be controlled. The other states have also put forth their views and we are waiting for an official notification from the commission,” Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said in a briefing after the meeting.
