All schools, colleges and educational institutions in Delhi-NCR have been instructed to remain shut until further notice as a result of poor air quality in the national capital region (NCR).
Institutions, which were just beginning to open up after remaining closed through the Covid-19 pandemic, will have to revert to the online mode of teaching.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday night after an emergency meeting on the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR issued a series of directions to the Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments to deal with it.
Measures suggested by Commission
The government offices in the city have been directed and the private ones have been advised to let half of their staff work from home.
The governments of Delhi and NCR states have been asked to stop the plying of visibly polluting vehicles.
Only those vehicles with valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates will be allowed on Delhi roads.
Traffic task-force teams are to be deployed at various points in Delhi to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
Six out of eleven thermal plants located within 300 km radius of Delhi will remain inoperative till November 30.
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Earlier, the Supreme Court suggested imposing a lockdown on Delhi to combat the air quality crisis.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recordings the average air quality index of Delhi on Tuesday was 403, in the severe zone. On Monday, the AQI was 353, categorised as very poor.
IMD scientists said that wind is likely to remain calm till November 18, and temperatures may drop too making it difficult for the pollutants to disperse easily.
On Tuesday, Delhi recorded the season’s coldest day with a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. IMD’s Ayanagar station recorded the minimum temperature at 9 degrees — the first sub-10 degrees of the season.
(With inputs from agencies)
