Schools and construction paused as Indian capital mulls ‘pollution lockdown’
Schools in New Delhi have closed for a week, as authorities consider a “pollution lockdown” to protect residents of worsening smog.
“Schools will be shut so that children don’t have to breathe polluted air,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters on Saturday.
The minister added that that the capital’s construction activity would also be paused for four days, Al Jazeera reported.
Government offices and businesses have also been asked to work from home as much as possible.
Delhi’s Supreme Court yesterday suggested the lockdown in a bid to tackle the city’s air quality.
“Pollution lockdown has never happened before. It will be an extreme step,” chief justice N.V. Ramana said.
“How will we live otherwise?”
The new emissions-related lockdown measures follow India refusing to commit to phasing out its coal use completely at COP26.
The country now finds itself at a crossroads – having to meaningfully acknowledge the worsening air quality in its cities or the communities who will be left with few money-making avenues without the coal industry.
Though the pollution has not come from coal alone. The burning of agricultural waste at the beginning of every winter also plays a major role in city air quality during these weeks.