After Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad Shut All Schools As Air Pollution Hits New High

New Delhi: Amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziab ministration have ordered suspension of physical classes till Class 12 in all schools. As per order, studies will continue in online mode due to poor air quality.

decision was announced as Stage IV of Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP) was imposed in Delhi-NCR, which also includes two western Uttar Presh districts. Meanwhile, air quality was recorded in ‘severe’ category in parts of NCR on Tuesday.

"In view of above, all schools of District Gautam Buddh Nagar are directed to here to action enlisted under Stage IV of Gred Response Action Plan. Accordingly, it is directed that all schools shall discontinue physical classes from Pre-School to Class 12 till November 23 and conduct classes in online mode only," GB Nagar District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said in an order.

Similarly, Ghaziab District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh issued ordered same, citing severe pollution levels.

"All schools from Class 1 to Class 12 in Ghaziab will remain closed for offline classes and will operate exclusively in online mode until furr notice," Singh said, according Ghaziab DM.

Highlighting public safety amid rising air pollution, Singh said order will remain in place until furr instructions are provided.

Furr, night-time inspections were carried out at construction sites in Noida to ensure compliance with ban on construction and demolition activities as per GRAP orders, Uttar Presh Pollution Control Board's regional officer of Noida Utsav Sharma said.

Delhi Schools Shift to Online Mode

In wake of rising air pollution, all schools in Delhi have also been ordered to remain shut until furr notice. All schools across Delhi have discontinued its physical classes.  In a tweet on X, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi ded that all schools would hold online classes until furr notice.

Gurugram, Faridab Schools Shut Till Class 5

Meanwhile, schools for all students till Class 5 have been ordered to shift online in Gurugram and Faridab.

What is GRAP?

Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a an anti-pollution measure that mandates specific actions to be taken at different levels of air pollution, ranging from moderate to severe. se actions include measures like banning certain industrial activities, ro rationing and traffic diversions for heavy vehicles and controlling construction dust. GRAP is invoked by Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and joining areas.

Given worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, CAQM invoked GRAP-IV curbs on Sunday. directions were effective from Monday (November 18) from 8 am. This move comes amid significant rise in national capital's AQI, which crossed 500-mark in several areas recently. According to AQI classifications, a 0-50 range is considered "good," 51-100 "satisfactory," 101-200 "moderate," 201-300 "poor," 301-400 "very poor," and 401-500 "severe".