AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI: PRIMARY SCHOOLS CLOSED FROM TOMORROW, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES RESTRICTED, SAYS KEJRIWAL

According to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, all primary schools in Delhi will be closed starting tomorrow till further notice due to the city's increasing pollution levels. He further stated that all students in classes above class 5 would not be permitted to participate in any outdoor activities.

Kejriwal stated during a press conference, “We’re taking all steps to control the pollution situation. In lieu of that, we’re shutting down all primary schools in Delhi from tomorrow… Also shutting down outdoor activities for all classes above class 5.” At the press conference, Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab, was with Kejriwal.

He added that given the deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government is also considering implementing the odd-even scheme for vehicles. In addition, Kejriwal claimed that the AAP government is not the only cause of Delhi's worrying air pollution levels and poor air quality, and he urged the Centre to take action.

"The AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi cannot be blamed completely for air pollution," he said. The chief minister of Delhi also urged the central government not to play the political blame game and acknowledged that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab is a factor in Delhi's air pollution. But he said that farmers might also be at fault.

As of 11:40 a.m., the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi's Lodhi Road was 396 (very poor), while it was 471 (severe) close to the Delhi University region. The air quality index (AQI) was 443 (severe), 382 (very poor), 474 (severe), 438 (severe), 469 (severe), and 526 (severe) at Pusa Road, IIT Delhi, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport terminal 3, Mathura Road, and Noida, respectively.