All schools will be shut across the national capital except Classes 10 and 12 till November 10, the minister said
In New Delhi, the odd-even traffic rule is set to return right after Diwali, and school closures have been extended up to Class 11 due to the escalating pollution levels. Gopal Rai, the State Environment Minister, announced today that all schools in the national capital will remain closed, with the exception of Classes 10 and 12, until November 10. This decision follows the ongoing severe air quality issues, which had previously led to the suspension of classes up to Class 5.
For nearly a week now, Delhi has been enveloped in a thick and hazardous smog, leading authorities to enforce measures such as restricting the entry of diesel trucks and banning construction activities in the city under Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Additionally, Mr. Rai confirmed that the ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles would persist, outlining several other initiatives introduced by the government. These measures include prohibiting the use of firecrackers and the deployment of smog guns to mitigate pollution.
The odd-even traffic rule, a cornerstone of the Arvind Kejriwal government’s pollution-fighting strategy in recent years, is slated to make a return for a one-week period starting on November 13, immediately following Diwali.
New Delhi: The odd-even traffic rule is set to make a comeback in Delhi the day following Diwali, and in light of the escalating pollution levels, State Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that school closures have been extended up to Class 11 for the coming week. Minister Rai stated that all schools in the national capital will remain closed, with the exception of Classes 10 and 12, until November 10. Presently, only classes up to Class 5 have been suspended due to the deteriorating air quality.
Delhi has remained shrouded in a dense and hazardous smog for nearly a week, prompting authorities to take measures such as restricting the entry of diesel trucks and imposing a ban on construction activities in the city, all under Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Furthermore, Mr. Rai elaborated on other measures undertaken by the government, including the continued ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles, as well as the prohibition of firecrackers and the installation of smog guns.
The odd-even traffic rule, which has been a central component of the pollution-fighting strategy of the Arvind Kejriwal government in recent years, is scheduled to be in effect for one week starting on November 13, immediately following Diwali.
Under this rule, only vehicles with registration numbers ending in an odd digit will be permitted on Delhi’s roads on odd-numbered days, while those with even digits will be allowed on even-numbered days.
The decision to extend the odd-even rule beyond November 20 will be reviewed at a later date, the minister noted.
As of this morning, the overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 488, well above the upper limit set by the World Health Organization. Some of the areas with the worst air quality included RK Puram (466), ITO (402), Patparganj (471), and New Moti Bagh (488).
