New Delhi: Hours after the Supreme Court asked Delhi government to take emergency steps to address severe air pollution in the capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday evening announced a series of curbs for the coming days to improve city's air quality.
While speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said that all schools in the national capital will be physically closed from Monday (November 15) and will continue classes virtually so that children don't have to breathe in polluted air.
He also said that construction activities will not be allowed in Delhi between November 14-17.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief also announced that all government offices in Delhi will operate from home (Work From Home) at 100 per cent capacity for a week.
Even private offices to be issued an advisory to go for WFH option as much as possible.
Key Decisions Taken By Delhi Govt After Emergency Meeting On Pollution:
i. Schools to be physically closed for a week
ii. Construction activities not to be allowed
iii. Govt offices to operate from home, same advice for private offices
iv. Will put a proposal for lockdown before Supreme Court
v. Delhi govt will also present a proposal for lockdown before Supreme Court
The chief minister, after an emergency meeting, said that the pollution level is rising in Delhi due to stubble burning in neighbouring states and called upon all stakeholders to work together to combat it.
Terming the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR post-Diwali an 'emergency' situation, the Supreme Court asked the Centre and the Delhi government to take immediate measures to improve the air quality and suggested steps such as stopping vehicles and clamping a lockdown in the national capital.
Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the severe category for the third consecutive day today with the 24-hour average air quality index being recorded at 437, a marginal improvement from the day before.