Authorities take measures to tackle air quality deterioration in Delhi-Lucknow
Updated: Nov 6th, 2023
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| Delhi Air Quality (img: IANS) |
In view of the deteriorating air condition in the national capital, Delhi government today said that all the physical school classes except classes 10 and 12 will remain suspended till Nov 10.
An order issued by the Delhi government said: “In view of the implementation of Stage IV graded response action plan order issued by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), it is ordered that all classes - except the board classes i.e. X and XII in all schools of Delhi shall be held online upto Nov 10.”
It said that teachers shall come to school and conduct classes online.
The order further read: “As for the Board classes i.e. X and XII, the HoSs (Head of Schools) shall have the option to either conduct the same online or call the students to school for physical classes.”
HoSs must inform the parents about these arrangements immediately, the order read.
Odd-even rule implemented in Delhi
Earlier in the day, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called a meeting with the environment minister and other senior ministers along with several officers of the Delhi government to curb the air pollution in the national capital.
The environment minister today said that the odd-even vehicle system will be implemented for a week in the city from Nov 13 to 20.
He said that there is a complete ban on firecrackers. “Despite the ban of firecrackers, today we have directed the police to be alert as there is Diwali and World Cup match and then Chhath Puja,” he said.
Rai said, ‘We also appeal to the BJP governments in the BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to ban the firecrackers to control the pollution.
“During the meeting it was discussed that the pollution may rise in the national capital after Diwali. So a day after Diwali the odd-even scheme will be launched for a week,” he said.
The air quality in the national capital has remained ‘severe’ for the last few days.
Similar conditions emerging in Lucknow
After being declared noisier than ever, Lucknow is now recording high air pollution levels with AQI in the ‘poor’ category. The state capital was engulfed in a layer of haze on Nov 4 evening and through Nov 5.
As per the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the state capital was 274, making the city figure in the ‘poor’ air quality list.
The air pollution levels spiked by 88 units in a single day as compared to a day before.
An environmentalist said that in the coming days the air quality will deteriorate further as temperatures will fall and will not allow pollutants to disperse in the atmosphere.
(Source: IANS)
- Edited for style
