Guwahati: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that primary schools will be shut from tomorrow till the pollution situation improves.
“We’re taking all steps to control the pollution situation. In lieu of that, we’re shutting down all primary schools in Delhi from tomorrow… Also shutting down outdoor activities for all classes above class 5,” CM Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal and his Punjabi counterpart Bhagwant Mann were speaking at a press conference in this location.
“We’re also mulling whether the odd-even scheme for vehicles should be implemented,” Kejriwal said.
The chief minister of Delhi added that this was “not the time for finger-pointing and blame-games.”
This is the second day in a row that the national capital’s air quality has been deemed “severe.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided today to hear a case involving the air pollution in Delhi.
Gopal Rai, the environment minister for Delhi, has called a high-level conference today to go over the execution of restrictions on polluting activities under the Graded Response Action Plan’s final phase.
On Wednesday, the Delhi government was urged by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to close schools until the capital’s air quality improved.
According to data released by SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) on Friday, burning of stubble was responsible for 34% of Delhi’s PM 2.5 pollution.
Delhi’s total Air Quality Index (AQI) increased to 472, indicating that the city’s air quality remained in the “severe” category. According to data released by SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) India, Gurugram’s AQI stood at 539 and continued to be in the “severe” category, while Noida’s AQI, which is a part of the national capital region, recorded an AQI of 562, and continued to be in that category on Friday morning.
When the Air Quality Index is between 0 and 100, it is good; when it is between 100 and 200, it is moderate; when it is between 200 and 300, it is bad; when it is between 300 and 400, it is very poor; and when it is between 400 and 500 or above, it is severe.