AQI dip:Delhi-NCR schools, colleges shut,offices advised 50 pc WFH

 All schools and colleges in Delhi and nearby cities should be closed till further notice, the Commission for Air Quality Management said late Tuesday night. The direction - one of many - comes as the national capital region as it battles a toxic smog that has blanketed the city since Diwali. The Commission issued a series of directions to the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to deal with the air pollution crisis in Delhi and neighbouring areas. This comes after an emergency meeting on the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR was held on Tuesday. The measures are to be implemented with immediate effect. The state governments have to file compliance reports regarding the same on November 22.

A nine-page order issued by the CAQM also advised that private firms in Delhi NCR must also be "encouraged" to allow at least 50 per cent of their staff to work from home. Construction activities and demolition projects across Delhi NCR have been stopped till November 21 as well, with exceptions made for railway services/stations, Metro operations, airports and bus terminals, as well as national security or defence-related activities and projects.Importantly, only five of 11 thermal power plants in Delhi NCR will be operative.

Construction activities and demolition projects across Delhi NCR have been stopped till November 21 as well, with exceptions made for railway services/stations, Metro operations, airports and bus terminals, as well as national security or defence-related activities and projects. Temportantly, only five of 11 thermal power plants in Delhi NCR will be operative.