Pollution Crisis: Delhi Schools Shut, Work From Home For Govt Staff

Picture courtesy Reuters

New Delhi: Hours after Supreme Court termed the pollution situation in Delhi-NCR as ‘emergency’ and suggested a lockdown be clamped in the national capital, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday evening announced measures to tackle the serious crisis.

He ordered Delhi schools to be shut down from Monday for a week, with no physical classes to be held. The Aam Aadmi Party government also decided to switch back to 100% work from home for for state government employees starting Monday.

An advisory will be issued for private offices to adopt work from home option as much as possible, Kejriwal said. No construction activity will be allowed between November 14 and 17.

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“There was a discussion in the Supreme Court whether a complete lockdown can be brought in place if the situation worsens. We are working on it as to what will the lockdown imply… we are not imposing the lockdown. We are drafting a proposal which we will place in front of the Supreme Court. It will be discussed with all agencies because it will be an extreme step. The Centre will also be taken into confidence. If such a situation comes, construction, vehicular movement might have to be stopped,” Kejriwal said.

The AQI level in Delhi this evening was 427, which falls in the severe or hazardous category.