Delhi schools to remain shut for week, govt employees to work from home: CM Arvind Kejriwal on air pollution

Arvind Kejriwal | Pic/AFP

To tackle increasing air pollution levels in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced a 'pollution lockdown' under which the schools would remain physically closed for a week from this Monday.

Classes would continue virtually so that students don't have to breathe in the polluted air. All construction activity in the national capital have been shut down from November 14 to November 17, he added. Government office employees will be asked to operate from home (WFH) at 100 per cent capacity for a week, while private offices will be issued an advisory to go for WFH (work from home) option as much as possible, stated the Chief Minister.

Kejriwal announced the decisions after chairing a high-level emergency meeting with senior officials and ministers of the Delhi government. According to Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the meeting will begin at 5 pm today. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satendra Jain, Environment Minister Gopal Rai and Chief Secretary attended the meeting. The air quality in the national capital plunged to the 'severe category' leaving Delhiites gasping for fresh air on Saturday morning.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board the overall AQI in Delhi was 427 in the evening According to the government agencies, an AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 are marked as severe/hazardous.

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