Delhi Pollution: Kejriwal Announces 2-Day Closure For Schools As Smog Chokes National Capital Ahead of Diwali

Delhi Pollution News: CM Arvind Kejriwal said that all government and private schools in Delhi will be closed for the next two days due to the rising pollution level in the national capital region.

A man wears a mask in the hope of some protection from the air pollution in Delhi as heavy smog engulfs the national capital on Thursday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the "very poor" category for the sixth consecutive day on November 2.

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Delhi Pollution News: In the wake of rising air pollution in the national capital Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that all schools in Delhi will be closed for the next two days. “In light of the rising pollution levels, all govt and private primary schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 2 days,” Arvind Kejriwal posted on on X. 

The Air Quality Index in Delhi has taken a severe hit over the past few days. As per the data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI (Air Quality Index) in Delhi and Noida stood in the 'very poor' category on Thursday evening. The air quality and visibility are worsening in the national capital region, including areas like Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad, by the day. Some Areas in Delhi-NCR, like Anand Vihar, airport, and RK Puram, saw the AQI rise above the 400-mark, according to the National Air Quality Index data released by the Central Pollution Control Board. 

In light of the increasing pollution and degrading air quality in the national capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in the entire National Capital Region (NCR). With rising concerns on pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of all concerned departments tomorrow, to discuss the strict implementation of GRAP-III. He further announced on Wednesday that the city government would ban construction work in areas where the AQI remains above the 400-mark for five consecutive days.

Gurugram District Administration Curbs Burning Waste Material Amid Rising Pollution

With air pollution levels soaring in the ‘poor’ category in the Delhi-NCR region, the Gurugram district administration has banned burning of all kinds of waste materials of any kind, in any place, across the zones of Gurugram district. 

“The burning of waste materials of any kind, in open areas, streets, backyards, or within the industrial, residential, or rural zones of Gurugram district, is strictly prohibited,” reads an official order from Gurgugram district magistrate Nishant Kumar Yadav.