In response to deteriorating air quality, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced that primary schools will transition to online learning starting Friday to protect children from the severe pollution levels affecting the city. The announcement, made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), states that online classes for young students will remain in effect “until further directions.”
Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions.
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 14, 2024
The move follows the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) elevating Delhi’s pollution response measures to GRAP-3 (Graded Response Action Plan), which includes stricter mitigation efforts to tackle the escalating pollution. This heightened alert will take effect from 8 a.m. on Friday and includes various pollution control measures across the city, with additional steps likely if conditions worsen.
GRAP III Anti-Pollution Measures
These emergency protocols include a ban on all non-essential construction and demolition activities and various traffic restrictions aimed at reducing particulate matter in the air. Under GRAP-3, CAQM has advised the governments in Delhi NCR, including the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), to consider suspending in-person classes for children up to Class V and shifting to online education temporarily.
Additionally, diesel-operated Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi that are not compliant with BS-III standards will not be allowed entry unless they are transporting essential goods or services.
Further restrictions under GRAP-3 include a ban on older, higher-emission vehicles: BS-III petrol vehicles and BS-IV diesel vehicles are now restricted from the roads in Delhi and nearby NCR cities like Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
Diesel generators can only be used in emergency situations, and more mechanized road-sweeping and water-sprinkling machines are being deployed to suppress dust. Construction projects necessary for national security, healthcare, and certain public infrastructure will be exempt from the ban, ensuring that critical work remains uninterrupted.
Delhi’s AQI reading at 9 am on Thursday was 428, placing it in the ‘severe’ category. This follows the city’s worst AQI level of the season reported on Wednesday, marking a new high for air pollution this year.
