As pollution levels in Delhi continued to rise over the past few weeks, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 in Delhi NCR from Monday, which saw a dip in the Air Quality Index (AQI) dipping into ‘severe plus’ category.
This decision was taken after Delhi’s daily average AQI rose sharply to 441 by 4 pm on Sunday and further escalated to 457 by 7 pm which prompted an emergency meeting of the GRAP Sub-Committee.
Measures under Stage IV of GRAP include stopping the entry of truck traffic into Delhi, except for trucks carrying essential commodities and providing essential services, and banning construction and demolition activities.
Meanwhile, in view of the pollution, the Delhi government has ordered online classes for all students except those in class 10 and class 12. Heads of schools have also been directed to ensure classes in online mode for the students of these classes till further orders. Physical classes for students of class 10 and class 12 will continue as usual.
One individual, Raju Lal, said, “My two children study here, one in class 9 and the other in class 10. I dropped the one studying in class 10 here at school… The child studying in class 9 has online classes… Pollution affects children more…”
A thick layer of smog loomed over Gurugram city as air quality continues to deteriorate.
In response to worsening air pollution, the Nuh Administration in Haryana has declared holidays for schools up to Class 5 from November 18 to November 22, according to an official order.
As per the order from the office of the District Elementary Education Officer of Nuh, the holiday has been declared in all government, semi-government, and private schools in the Nuh district of Haryana.
The administration has directed all Block Education Officers to strictly implement the orders in their respective blocks.
Measures include
1. Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services). All LNG/CNG / Electric/ BS- VI Diesel trucks) shall, however, be permitted to enter Delhi.
2. Do not permit LCVS registered outside Delhi, other than EVS / CNG / BS- VI diesel, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.
3. Enforce strict ban on plying of Delhi – registered BS-IV and below diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVS) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities / providing essential services.
4. Ban C&D activities, as in the GRAP Stage-III, also for linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, tele-communication etc.
5. NCR State Govts. and GNCTD may take a decision on discontinuing physical classes even for classes VI – IX, class XI and conduct lessons in an online mode.
6. NCR State Governments / GNCTD to take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.
7. Central Government may take appropriate decision on permitting work from home for employees in central government offices.
8. State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of colleges/ educational institutions and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting running of vehicles on odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.
