Air pollution: Primary schools closed in Delhi, classes to be held online as air quality worsens

Air pollution: Delhi CM Atishi said due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions.

With the rising air pollution, the Delhi government on Thursday announced the closure of classes in the primary school. "Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions," Delhi CM Atishi said in a post on X. 

The move to close all primary schools and shift classes to online mode has been taken after the central pollution panel imposed restrictions under the third stage of the GRAP in Delhi-NCR, banning all construction and demolition activities and restricting the entry of certain vehicles in Delhi.

With the rising air pollutions, the Delhi government on Thursday annouced closure of classes in the primary school. "Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions," Delhi CM Atishi said in a post on X. 

The move to close all primary schools and shift classes to online mode has been taken after the central pollution panel imposed restrictions under the third stage of the GRAP in Delhi-NCR, banning all construction and demolition activities and restricting the entry of certain vehicles in Delhi.

The air quality in the capital remained in the "severe" category for a second consecutive day, prompting authorities to impose stringent anti-pollution measures. The restrictions will come into force from Friday.

The decision was taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Under the third stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), all inter-state buses from NCR states -- except electric vehicles, CNG vehicles and BS-VI diesel buses -- will be prohibited from entering Delhi, alongside a stringent ban on construction and demolition activities, suspension of mining-related activities, consideration of shifting to online classes for students up to Class 5 and daily water sprinkling on major roads.

Under the third stage of the GRAP, there would be restrictions on the plying of BS-lll petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality -- Stage 1 for "poor" Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging between 201 and 300, Stage 2 for "very poor" AQI of 301-400, Stage 3 for "severe" AQI of 401-450 and Stage 4 for "severe plus" AQI (more than 450).

Check restrictions under GRAP III

It is the third phase of anti-pollution measures that are implemented when AQI reaches 'Severe' (401 to 450).

A strict ban on non-essential construction and demolition work, with exceptions for projects critical to national security, healthcare, and certain public infrastructure projects.

Ban on the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and parts of the NCR like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida.

Restrictions on the use of diesel generator sets for emergency purposes only.

Industrial operations not running on fuels in the standard list of approved ones are banned.

Intensifying mechanized road sweeping and water sprinkling to suppress dust. Increasing public transport services and promoting off-peak travel through differential rates.