Measures to tackle Delhi-NCR pollution: schools shut, public-private offices to work at 50% capacity
Delhi -Delhi and the NCR region is witnessing worsening air quality, posing a health hazard for all. In view of this, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a set of guidelines that are to be followed with immediate effect. Under the new guidelines, CAQM has ordered all Delhi – NCR region schools and colleges to remain closed until further notice, thereby continuing online classes. The state government had earlier ordered the school’s closure till Sunday starting November 13. The latest orders are a continuation of that.
The announcement came after an emergency meeting of officials from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. CAQM ordered Chief Secretaries of Delhi and NCR region late Tuesday to monitor implementation of new directives regularly. The directives, however, do not include anything related to lockdown as suggested by Supreme Court earlier.
Related Posts
CAQM, an agency under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, lists the new guidelines to tackle pollution in Delhi – NCR region as follows:
- Schools and colleges in region will continue with online mode of education, with physical classes closed down.
- Only five of the 11 thermal power plants within 300 km radius of Delhi NTPC, Jhajjar; Mahatma Gandhi TPS, CLP Jhajjar; Panipat TPS, HPGCL; Nabha Power Ltd. TPS, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo TPS, Mansa will be operational till November 30.
- Delhi – NCR region has to stop construction and demolition activities till November 21, except railway services/railway stations, metro rail corporation services, including stations, airports and inter-state bus terminals (ISBTS) and national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance subject to strict compliance of the C&D Waste Management Rules and dust control norms.
- Trucks carrying non-essential items are banned from entering Delhi till Sunday.
- Work from home (WFH) to be allowed for at least 50 per cent of public and private offices staff.
- The Delhi government has been directed to procure and make adequate number of CNG buses operational at the earliest.