- High level of pollutants have kept the air quality in the ‘severe’ category, even three days after Diwali.
- The National Green Tribunal has directed the Chief Secretary of Delhi to hold an urgent meeting on Thursday with all concerned authorities on the deteriorating air quality.
- Heritage School (Gurgaon) and Shri Ram School (both Delhi and Gurgaon) have cancelled classes for Friday.
- Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave has stated that an advisory to tackle air pollution will be issued soon for all the states.
As Delhi continues to remain under a thick blanket of smog even three days after Diwali, the city chokes on toxic air. While the level of air pollutants - PM 2.5 and PM 10 - continue to plague our lungs, paying heed to advisories being issued is a must.
‘Collective Efforts’
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave on Thursday stressed on “collective efforts” to make the hazardous air pollution situation better.
After discussions with the concerned ministers, Dave said that a “roadmap will also be put forth.”
“Will issue advisory to states on short, medium and long- term measures to tackle air pollution after consultations,” he said.
CP, Khan Market Will Soon Be No-Vehicle Zones
Expressing concern over air pollution and traffic congestion in the city, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday asked the NDMC to convert Connaught Place and Khan Market into no-vehicle zones.
The move is a part of the Smart City initiative with new traffic management and last mile connectivity plans to be introduced soon.
Naidu also stressed on introducing non-motorised vehicles and provision of quality pedestrian pathways.
Save Your Lungs!
Over the Diwali weekend of 2016, India’s air quality was among the world’s worst and between 40% and 100% worse in five north Indian cities than at the same time the preceding year, according to global air pollution data and anIndiaSpend analysis of national data and#Breathe network of sensors.
On 30 and 31 October 2016, from 9 pm to the wee hours of the next morning, North India – especially parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – recorded PM 2.5 levels of over 500 µg/m³ – exhibiting “beyond scale” pollution values, according to the database run by Berkeley Earth, an independent US research organisation.
Read the full report here: Wanna Save Your Lungs? Stay Home. Delhi Inhaling World’s Worst Air
Heritage and Shri Ram Schools Cancel Classes
All classes of Shri Ram Schools in Delhi and Gurgaon, except Class X and Class XII, have been cancelled for Friday and Monday in view of excessive air pollution.
The Heritage School, Gurgaon, followed suit and has decided to cancel classes on Friday.