Delhi pollution: Schools may shut for few days, deputy CM calls for meeting

Delhi pollution: The air’s declining quality was made apparent when pollutants combined with moisture on Monday evening, shrouding the city in a thick haze, also resulting in a reduction of visibility.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has prompted a meeting of education, health and environment department officials to discuss the shutting of schools for a few days due to the increase in smog levels and pollution on the city. The CM consulted Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on the matter, who has directed the environment department to submit a report on the capital’s pollution levels by Tuesday evening.

“Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining states. Considering high level of pollution, I have requested Manish Sisodia, Education Minister, to consider closing schools for few days,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Sisodia commented the at the decision for the closure of schools in the city will be taken by the government and the odd-even car rationing scheme will also be introduced after the examination. The meeting will be held at 5.30 pm on Tuesday.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will take a final decision on it once the report comes. The Delhi government has requested the Centre several times to intervene in the issue of crop burning in neighbouring states but the central government has not responded yet,” the deputy CM said.

The air’s declining quality was made apparent when pollutants combined with moisture on Monday evening, shrouding the city in a thick haze, also resulting in a reduction of visibility. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also appealed to the government to prohibit outdoor and sports activities at city schools to reduce the impact of the harmful air quality.