Government-aided and private schools reopen after winter vacation

All private and government-subsidized schools in Delhi reopened on Monday after early winter holidays and restrictions under Phase IV of GRAP were lifted after some improvement in the city’s air quality.

The sports activities in open air and the morning assemblies will not be carried out in the schools during the next week, according to an order issued by the Direction of Education (DoE).

The Department of Education issued an order on Saturday to reschedule classes for all students from preschool to grade 12 in view of the improvement in Delhi’s air quality index and that there are no indications of a strong degradation of the AQI in it. future near.

Delhi experienced a “very poor” to “severe” air quality during two weeks starting on 28 October, with a suffocating haze that persisted over the city during that period.

They closed schools in Delhi and announced winter holidays on 8 November amid increasing pollution in the city and increasing health concerns.

The inhabitants of Delhi witnessed gloomy skies and abundant sun on the days of 11 and 12 November, when the air quality improved dramatically just before Diwali due to favorable meteorological conditions.

However, the respite did not last long because people violated the prohibition of using firecrackers during Diwali on 12 November, which caused an increase in pollution levels.

On Saturday, the Center removed strict restrictions, including the prohibition of construction work related to linear projects and the entry of contaminated trucks into Delhi in view of a drop in the levels of air pollution due to the favorable speed and direction of the wind.

These measures constitute the final stage – Stage IV – of the center’s air pollution control plan called Graduate Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The air quality in Delhi and its suburbs deteriorated again on Monday after a marginal improvement in the last one day and forecasts suggest that it is unlikely to produce any significant improvement in the coming days.

The AQI of the city stood at 338 at 8 am on Monday, deteriorating from 301 at 4 pm and 290 at 7 am on Sunday.

The ICA average of 24 hours, recorded at 4 pm all days, was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday and 419 on Thursday.