Delhi Schools To Reopen From Monday as AQI Improves, Outside Activities Remain Banned

All government and private schools in Delhi will reopen from Monday in view of the improving air quality across the NCR. The announcement was made by the Delhi government on Saturday.

The official order issued by the Directorate of Education stated that while physical classes will resume there will still be a ban on outdoor sports activities and morning assemblies for one week in all schools across Delhi.

Classes for all students from pre-school to standard 12 will resume from November 20 onwards.

Citing the reason, the notice further stated that the Air Quality Index has improved and there is no indication of any sharp degradation in the Air Quality of Delhi in the near future, as per the forecast.

Earlier on November 8, the Delhi government had announced an early winter break for schools from November 9 to 18 amid severe air pollution in the national capital.

This comes after the Commission for Air Quality on Saturday removed stringent curbs, including a ban on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi, following an improvement in air quality due to an increase in the wind speed and a change in the wind direction.

These measures constitute the final stage, Stage IV, of the Centre’s air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

All medium and heavy goods vehicles not engaged in essential services were also banned in the capital under Stage IV of GRAP, according to the latest CAQM order.

The pollution control body said all other curbs under stages I, II and III of GRAP, including a ban on non-essential construction work, mining, stone crushers and diesel generators will continue.

The city’s 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, improved from 405 on Friday to 319 on Saturday. It was 419 on Thursday, 401 on Wednesday, 397 on Tuesday, 358 on Monday, 218 on Sunday, 220 on Saturday and 279 on Friday.

Neighbouring Ghaziabad (276), Gurugram (322), Greater Noida (228), Noida (265) and Faridabad (309) also recorded “very poor” air quality.