Construction Banned, Schools Shut, Work From Home Recommended In Delhi-NCR To Fight Air Pollution

New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Tuesday (November 16) issued directions like a ban on construction work, shutting of public schools, work from home, among other measures to control air pollution in the region. CAQM had directed the government of Delhi, Punjab Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to ensure ‘strict force’ of the measures with immediate effect. The commission has also directed five states to submit a compliance report before November 22 to the commission and directions will be closely monitored by Chief Secretary of NCR states, GNCTD on a regular basis, said the official release.

Also Read: Supreme Court Orders ‘Work From Home’ Over Air Pollution In Indian Capital Delhi

All private and public Schools, Colleges, and Educational Institutions in NCR shall remain closed until further orders allowing only online mode of education, reads the release.

“With construction causing one of the major sources of pollution, it is directed to stop construction and demolition activities till November 21 except projects of national importance, national security, defence-related activities, railways, metro railways, airport, and ISBT,” it added.

As per the commission, trucks should not be allowed to enter the national capital till November 21 except trucks carrying essential commodities. Related to the directions regarding thermal power plants located within the radius of 300 km of Delhi, out of 11 only five shall be allowed to operate whereas others to remain inoperative till November 30, says the official release.

The anti-pollution body also asked people to encourage work from home and 50 per cent staffs working from offices till November 21 which is again subjected to further changes. The meeting was scheduled on Tuesday on an urgent basis after Supreme Court intervened and raised concern on Delhi and adjoining states pollution level that ranges between very poor to severe category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 396 on Tuesday as it continued to remain in the ‘Very Poor’ category for the third consecutive day.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity,  that is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.