Schools shut for a week as pollution spikes, no lockdown for now in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Amid air emergency in Delhi, the government on Saturday announced that schools will be shut for a week, starting Monday and government offices will operate in work from home mode.

“For a week from Monday onwards, schools will be physically closed; to continue virtually so that children do not have to breathe polluted air," announced Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“Government offices will operate from home (WFH) at 100% capacity for a week. Private offices to be issued an advisory to go for the WFH option as much as possible," he added.

Further, the CM announced construction activities will not be allowed from 14 to 17 November.

He said that the state government is working on a proposal for lockdown in Delhi and will present it soon to the Supreme Court.

This comes after the apex court on Saturday suggested clamping a lockdown in Delhi as it asked the Centre and the Delhi government to take immediate measures to improve the air quality.

The court said the situation of pollution is so bad that people are wearing masks inside their houses.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said there are other reasons for pollution such as vehicular emissions, firecrackers and dust, and singling out stubble burning is not the solution.

The apex court also expressed concern that schools in the national capital have opened and children are being exposed to severe pollution conditions.

Following this, Kejriwal called an emergency meeting to tackle the problem, which was also attended by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, health minister Satyendar Jain, environment minister Gopal Rai and Delhi chief secretary.