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The announcement comes hours after the Supreme Court directed all states in the Delhi-NCR region to suspend physical classes for all school students up to Class 12
Delhi government on Sunday had announced the closure of all schools except for classes 10th and 12th. (PTI file photo)
All schools and Delhi University colleges will go online from Tuesday as physical classes have been suspended in the view of “severe” air quality in the capital.
The announcement comes hours after the Supreme Court directed all states in the Delhi-NCR region to suspend physical classes for all school students up to Class 12, in response to the deteriorating air quality.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi made the announcement for online classes for 10th and 12th standard days after a similar order came regarding primary schools.
From tmrw physical classes shall be suspended for Class 10 and 12 as well, and all studies will be shifted online— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 18, 2024
The University of Delhi also announced that classes will be held online till Saturday, November 23.
A thick layer of smog engulfed the city throughout the day as Delhi recorded its worst air this season with Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 494 according to the daily bulletin by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Punjab reported 1,251 fresh farm fires — season’s highest — on Monday, exacerbating the situation. Punjab’s total count of farm fires has reached 9,655.
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After Diwali, the air quality deteriorated but the AQI was still in the “very poor” category. However, as the temperature dropped, Delhi’s air quality entered into “severe” zone for the first time on November 13. Since then, the AQI is in “severe” level except for November 15 when it was at 396 (very poor).
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government over delay in implementation of stricter anti-pollution measures under GRAP-4, and said it will not allow scaling down of the preventive measures without its prior permission.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih pointed out that there was a delay in implementation of preventive measures under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) even after the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched alarming levels in the national capital.
At the outset, the counsel for the Delhi government informed the bench that stage 4 of GRAP has been implemented from Monday and heavy vehicles have been banned from entering the national capital.
“The moment the AQI reaches between 300 and 400, stage 4 has to be invoked. How can you take risk in these matters by delaying applicability of stage 4 of GRAP,” the bench told the counsel.
It told the state government that the court wants to know what steps it has taken to curb the alarming rise of pollution level.
On Sunday, the CAQM announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under GRAP-4, effective from 8 am on Monday, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects.
