Pollution 'lockdown': Schools, colleges, offices closed in Delhi

New Delhi, Dt
The situation in Delhi is deteriorating due to air pollution and the capital Delhi is becoming a gas chamber day by day. During the hearing of a petition filed in view of the risk of air pollution, the apex court had slammed the state government and termed it a fashion to criticize farmers for the pollution. The Supreme Court also suggested a 'lockdown' to control pollution. After the Supreme Court's tough stance on the pollution issue, the Kejriwal government decided to close schools, colleges and offices for a week and also directed the state government employees to 'work from home'.
At a time when the situation in Delhi is deteriorating due to air pollution, Chief Justice of India N.V. A bench headed by Raman had slammed the Center and the state government. Raman told the Center that the increase in air pollution in Delhi-NCR was an 'emergency situation' and suggested immediate steps like imposing a two-day lockdown to improve air quality in the capital. He added that the situation in Delhi has deteriorated to such an extent that we have to wear masks even at home.
The Chief Justice said that it has become a fashion in neighboring states that pollution is on the rise due to burning of straw by farmers. It is very easy to criticize farmers. Straw may be part of the problem, but it is not the only cause. Pollution from vehicles, firecrackers and dust is also on the rise. The bench also questioned what steps you have taken to address all these reasons.
A bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Suryakant asked the Center to tell us how you can reduce the MQI from 500 to at least 500 points. The apex court also told the Delhi government that you have opened all the schools in the capital and now children are exposed to pollution. This is not the center but your jurisdiction. What steps have you taken to reduce pollution?
Following the Supreme Court's tough stance on air pollution, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal immediately convened a high-level meeting and announced a number of major decisions. After the meeting, Kejriwal said all schools and colleges in Delhi would be closed for a week from Monday. Apart from this, government offices in Delhi will also be closed. Employees will work 'work from home' for one week. Online classes will continue in schools during this time. In addition, construction activities will be stopped from November 16 to 17. Kejriwal added that a proposal for a complete lockdown was being prepared as per the suggestion of the Supreme Court. If air pollution in Delhi does not improve, all private vehicles, construction work, transport, industrial activities may be shut down. At present, however, this is only a proposal.
Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi on Saturday morning was still in the 'severe' category. The Air Quality Index (AQUI) was 2 here, while in neighboring Noida it was 2 AQI and in Gurgaon 4. The government has advised people to stay indoors as long as possible and has advised government and private offices to reduce the use of vehicles by up to 50 per cent. More than 3,000 incidents of straw burning led to a significant increase in Delhi's pollution, which contributes 4% to Delhi's pollution.