Delhi shuts schools, bans trucks over worsening toxic smog

NEW DELHI

Authorities in the Indian capital New Delhi implemented additional curbs including shutting schools until further notice and banning the entry of non-essential trucks due to toxic smog that worsened the air quality to "severe plus" category.

For many days now, several northern Indian cities have been witnessing toxic levels of air pollution, with the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi rising to 457 on Sunday evening, prompting authorities to announce more curbs in Delhi and neighboring areas.

Many of the air quality monitoring stations in Delhi had AQI of more than 490 on Monday morning, according to official data.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (Delhi and adjoining areas) on Sunday night announced the implementation of more curbs from Monday.

An eight-point action plan was ordered by the commission including asking the provincial governments to “consider additional emergency measures like closure of colleges/educational institutions and closure of non‑emergency commercial activities, permitting running of vehicles on odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.”

Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi Marlena, who the previous night ordered in-person classes shall be discontinued apart from classes 10 and 12, said all of north India has been “plunged into a medical emergency” as “stubble burning continues unchecked across the country.”

She blamed the federal government for taking no concrete steps to curb the stubble burning. “All of North India is paying the price for this, especially children and elderly who are struggling to breathe,” she said.

Experts attribute the recurring pollution to winter conditions, agricultural stubble burning to clear fields, and industrial and vehicular emissions, which intensify the poor air quality not only in India, but in neighboring Pakistan as well.

The country’s Supreme Court, which last month ruled that living in a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right, questioned on Monday the provincial government over delay in implementation of anti-pollution measures.