Primary schools will remain closed in Delhi from today.
New Delhi:
The air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category for the third consecutive day on Saturday morning with the city’s overall air quality index (AQI) at 431.
In Punjab, a thick layer of haze mainly engulfed the city due to adverse weather conditions and fire in the fields. Official data on Friday showed that stubble burning in Punjab contributed 34 per cent to Delhi’s PM 2.5 pollution.
In many areas, concentrations of fine particulates that damage the lungs, known as PM2.5, exceeded 460 micrograms per cubic meter, nearly eight times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.
Areas of National Capital Region (NCR) region – Noida and Gurugram at 7 am today recorded AQI at 529 and 478 respectively. The AQI was recorded at 534 in Dhirpur, West Delhi.
Primary schools in Delhi will remain closed from today, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday as air pollution in the city worsened. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that 50 percent officers of the Delhi government will work from home.
Outdoor activities will also remain prohibited for classes V to VII till the air quality improves in the city.
“We are also contemplating implementing the odd-even scheme for plying of vehicles,” Kejriwal was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Friday that there has been an increase in stubble burning due to the bumper paddy crop. However, he assured that steps are being taken to douse the fire.
Mann said, “We are taking such steps as there are 1.20 lakh machines to bury the stubble. Panchayats have also passed a resolution to stop stubble burning. We promise by November next year that there will be a reduction in stubble burning. “
Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced a ban on non-BS VI diesel powered light motor vehicles in Delhi. Shri Rai also announced the launch of Paryavaran Bus Service which would include 500 privately operated CNG buses.