Schools closed for three days as pollution worsens in Indian capital

Schools in the Indian capital New Delhi will be closed for the next three days following the government’s announcement of an “emergency situation” due to the level of air pollution.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who chaired an emergency meeting of the state cabinet on Sunday, said there was also a plan to shut construction sites for five days to bring the situation under control.

“Emergency measures are needed to solve this problem together,” Kejriwal said. “All construction and demolition in the city will be banned” for the next five days, he added.

Other measures announced include sprinkling water on main roads to suppress dust, shutting down a power plant and fighting fires at landfill sites.

Kejriwal advised people to stay indoors.

The official also blamed crop burning by farmers in neighboring states for the smog. “One can’t expect relief (from pollution) over the next few days as more crop burning will happen in the next few days.”

Most of Delhi’s neighboring states are largely dependent on agriculture, with farmers resorting to crop-stubble burning before each sowing season. The move worsens air pollution over Delhi and its satellite towns.

Pollution sparks demonstration

On Sunday morning, hundreds of people, including many parents with their children, gathered around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi’s major site for protests.

The reading for pollutants in the atmosphere has recently breached the 1,000 microgram mark for the first time in one neighborhood in southern Delhi, 10 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization.

New Delhi’s air quality has steadily worsened as a result of rapid urbanization that brings pollution from diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and industrial emissions. It also suffers from atmospheric dust and pollution from open fires lit by the urban poor to cook food or keep warm.