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Business News/ News / India/  Delhi's schools, colleges to reopen on Monday but air quality still very poor
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Delhi's schools, colleges to reopen on Monday but air quality still very poor

The institutions were closed for nearly 15 days due to a spike in air pollution
  • Pollution levels dropped marginally earlier this week, but the Air Quality Index on Thursday touched 393 on a scale of 500
  • As part of its efforts to combat pollution, the government has already shut five power stations on Delhi's outskirts. (ANI)Premium
    As part of its efforts to combat pollution, the government has already shut five power stations on Delhi's outskirts. (ANI)

    Schools and colleges in Delhi are set to reopen on Monday. The institutions were closed for nearly 15 days owing to a spike in air pollution. The government notified about their decision on Thursday. 

    The air quality in the national capital and its neighbouring cities remained very poor on Thursday .

    Pollution levels dropped marginally earlier this week, but the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday touched 393 on a scale of 500, indicating risks of respiratory illness from prolonged exposure.

    Government offices are also set to open from next week but state employees have been instructed to use public transport and government-run feeder buses, according to the Delhi government.

    A ban on the entry of diesel trucks with non-essential goods would continue, the government said, with only natural gas and and electric powered vehicles allowed into the teeming city of more than 20 million people.

    The Delhi government has hired an extra 700 CNG buses to encourage people to use public transport. And a ban on construction has been reimposed to curb dust, a major source of pollution.

    Delhi's foul air is putting more children in hospital with breathing problems, raising concerns among parents.

    As part of its efforts to combat pollution, the government has already shut five power stations on Delhi's outskirts.

    Expressing its unhappiness over piecemeal measures, India's Supreme Court has rapped the authorities for their inability to cut pollution in the city and surrounding areas.

    On Wednesday, the top court again criticised the government and asked authorities to take measures based on weather forecasts to mitigate the pollution.

    Lower temperatures and a drop off in wind speed lead to thick smog which in turn traps pollutants from vehicles, industries and the burning of biomass.

    "We all, unfortunately, have to depend on wind speed and (its) direction to clear our air and NOT government action" Vimlendu Jha, founder of environment group Swechha, said in a tweet.

     

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    Published: 25 Nov 2021, 03:52 PM IST
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