Haryana: Schools in Gurugram, Faridabad districts shut till Nov 5

The Haryana Government on Sunday announced that all schools till Class XII would remain closed on November 4 and 5 in Gurugram and Faridabad districts. The decision was taken keeping in mind the deteriorating levels of air quality. "All the private, aided and government schools till Class 12th will remain closed on November 4 and 5, 2019 in Gurugram and Faridabad districts," an official spokesperson of the Haryana government said.

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The spokesperson informed that the Deputy Commissioners of all other districts have been authorised to take the decision regarding the closure of schools in their respective districts as per local prevailing conditions of pollution. The government has directed all the Deputy Commissioners, District Education Officers, and District Elementary Education Officers to ensure the compliance of the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in letter and spirit.

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Toxic air as stubble burns

Since Diwali and due to stubble burning, the air quality in Haryana has deteriorated with Hisar, Jind, Faridabad and Kaithal recording air quality at 'severe' level. Farmers in Haryana and neighbouring Punjab usually burn the crop residue after harvesting paddy in the autumn season in order to clear the fields for the summer harvest. Smoke from these two States travels to the national capital each year, leading to a spike in the air pollution level. According to the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), straw burning has increased this year. "If we see the records from September 23 to October 21, the fire incidents have increased from last year. So far, 3,466 incidents have taken place. Last year till October 21, it was 2,575," Anil Sood, Head, ACM division, PRSC, had said while speaking to news agency ANI in Ludhiana.

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Penalty imposed

The district administration in Kaithal, Haryana, has penalised 133 farmers for resorting to stubble burning with the minimum fine of Rs 2,500. "Each defaulter has paid at least Rs. 2,500 as fine. The highest fine imposed was Rs. 15,000. These fines were levied after taking stock of the area of their land. FIR will also be filed against those who fail to pay the fines," said Pawan Sharma, Agriculture Deputy Director, Kaithal district.

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(With ANI inputs)