Private and government schools in all Haryana districts including Gurugram and Faridabad will remain closed till November 17.
New Delhi: After Delhi, the Haryana government on Sunday (November 14) ordered the closure of all schools till November 17 in view of alarming air pollution.
Private and government schools in all districts including Gurugram and Faridabad will remain closed till November 17.
The state government has also suggested government and private offices adopt work from home. The construction activities in the state have also been banned in order to tackle the issue.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hold a hearing on Delhi-NCR air pollution on Monday where the Central and the Delhi government will submit their plans to check pollution.
On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced the closure of schools for a week from Monday and banned the construction activities for four days. Further, he said government offices will begin work from home (WFH) while private ones will be urged to adopt the WFH model.
Delhi government’s decision had come after the Supreme Court on Saturday suggested a lockdown in the national capital, terming the air pollution in Delhi-NCR as an “emergency” situation.
The apex court had directed the Centre and the Delhi government to take immediate measures to improve the air quality.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, and also comprising justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant, said, “Your projection is as if farmers are responsible for this pollution. Seventy per cent. First let the Delhi people be controlled. Where is the effective mechanism to control firecrackers, vehicle pollution etc.?”
“We understand some per cent is stubble burning. Rest is crackers, vehicular pollution, industries, dust pollution etc. You tell us how to bring AQI levels from 500 to 200 points in Delhi. Take some immediate urgent measures like a two-day lockdown,” the bench was quoted as saying by PTI.
As per data on Saturday, Noida continued to remain the ”most polluted city” in the country with AQI recorded at 464, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad, Greater Noida recorded AQI at 441, 441, 423 and 408, respectively. Delhi’s overall air quality was also recorded in the severe category for the third consecutive day on Saturday with 437 AQI.
(With agency inputs)
