Delhi Pollution: The AAP-led Delhi government has decided to direct government offices to operate from home (WFH) at 100% capacity for a week. In view of the alarming situation of air pollution in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had called an emergency meeting on Saturday.
Kejriwal said the government has decided to close all schools for a week and continue virtually so that children do not have to breathe polluted air. All construction activities will also not be allowed (between November 14-17).
The Chief Minister told reporters after the emergency meeting that his government would also present the proposal for the lockdown before the Supreme Court.
Kejriwal said pollution levels in Delhi were rising due to stubble burning in neighboring states and called upon all stakeholders to work together to combat it. “This is not the time to point fingers. The Delhi government only wants to provide relief to Delhiites and children from emergency-like situations and to ensure that they breathe fresh air,” he said. The Chief Minister said that all stakeholders should work together to tackle the problem of air pollution in Delhi.
Later in a tweet, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “All schools, colleges and educational institutions in Delhi will remain closed next week as the pollution level has reached emergency level.” He said that the Delhi government is not imposing the lockdown but after taking the central government into confidence and after consulting all the central agencies it will submit a motion in the Supreme Court as it would be an extreme step.
Terming the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR as an “emergency”, the Supreme Court on Saturday suggested a lockdown in the national capital as it asked the Center and the Delhi government to take immediate measures to improve air quality.
The court said that the pollution situation is so bad that people are wearing masks inside their homes.
A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana said there are other causes of pollution such as vehicular emissions, crackers and dust, and burning of stubble is not the solution.
The top court also expressed concern that schools have opened up in the national capital and children are facing severe pollution conditions.
Read also: Consider a two-day lockdown in Delhi to reduce air pollution: Supreme Court to Center
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