Maroc - POPDIARIES.COM - A La Une - 15/Nov 16:08

New Restrictions In Delhi, Schools Go Online Because Of This!

New Restrictions In Delhi Delhi remains engulfed in smog for the third straight day with the air quality falling in the ‘severe ‘category. Delhi has now emerged as the second worst affected city in the world with AQI 498, a position which was previous year occupied by Pakistan’s Lahore city, which at 7 am today had AQI 770. IQAir, a Swiss company, has sorted top cities according to the Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) pollution index. Delhi’s most polluted areas this morning are Jahangirpuri with an AQI of 458, Bawana at 455, Wazirpur at 455, Rohini at 452 and Punjabi Bagh at 443, Sameer app of the Central Pollution Control Board reveals.Air and rail services have been disrupted due to low visibility due to smog in several parts of India. Many IndiGo flights to and from Amritsar are cancelled. There are several delays of SpiceJet flying from and to Delhi and Darbanga. Several trains are delayed for more than two hours. Over 25 trains reaching New Delhi railway station are also on time delay. With no reprieve from the surge in cases, all primary schools in Delhi have shifted to the online mode, said Atishi, the chief minister in a post on X. She explained that the online lessons for the primary school pupils will still go on “until further directives”. Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions. — Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 14, 2024 On Thursday, Graded Action Response Plan, popularly known as GRAP was implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and extended to stage 3. Under GRAP 3, the following restrictions and measures have been imposed: 1. An order made earlier that put restrictions on non-essential works such as construction and demolition.  2. A ban on the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and parts of the NCR like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida. 3. Restricted use of diesel generator sets for emergency purposes only. Industrial operations not running on fuels in the standard list of approved ones are banned. 4. Intensified mechanized road sweeping and water sprinkling to suppress dust.  5. Increasing public transport services and promoting off-peak travel through differential rates.  6. Major welding and gas-cutting operations. Minor welding activities for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) works are to be, however, permitted.  7. Painting, polishing and varnishing works etc. Cement, Plaster / other coatings, except for minor indoor repairs/ maintenance. Cutting/grinding and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials, except for minor indoor repairs/ maintenance. Waterproofing work (Excluding Chemical waterproofing).  8. Movement of vehicles carrying construction materials on unpaved roads. Long-term exposure to “severe” AQI can affect even healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases. Doctors have cautioned people to stay indoors as much as possible as air pollution affects physical and mental well-being and can cause health problems ranging from respiratory issues to cardiovascular. The health experts recommend limiting outdoor activities during peak pollution times, typically in the early morning and evening; and using masks, especially in highly polluted environments.