After the Centre was prompted to invoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of worsening air quality on Tuesday, the Delhi government instructed schools to conduct classes in hybrid mode up to Class 5.
An order issued by the Directorate of Education said, “All heads of schools of government, government-aided, unaided recognized private schools of DoE, NDMC, MCD, and Delhi Cantonment Board are directed to conduct classes in schools for children up to Class V in a hybrid mode — i.e., both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) — with immediate effect until further orders.”
The decision came in the aftermath of a sharp rise in Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) from 362 on Monday to 425 on Tuesday morning.
Calm winds, a stable atmosphere, and unfavourable weather conditions triggered pollutants to collect close to the surface, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
GRAP Stage III Implemented in Delhi: What’s Allowed and What’s Banned
What’s Allowed:
* Vital public infrastructure projects, such as those linked to railways, metro construction, airports, defence, sanitation, and healthcare, are allowed to go on. However, strict dust and waste management guidelines must be adhered to.
* Vehicles carrying necessary goods or providing emergency services are exempt from restrictions.
* Online classes for students up to Class 5 are allowed to ensure continuity in education.
What’s Banned:
* A complete ban has been put on all unnecessary construction and demolition activities, including earth excavation, piling, laying of sewer lines and electric cables through open trenches, and the operation of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) batching plants.
* All private BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles (four-wheelers) are banned from operating in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida.
* Non-essential diesel-run BS-IV medium goods vehicles and BS-IV or lower diesel light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi are prohibited, except those engaged in essential services or goods transport.
* Private companies have been advised to implement work-from-home or hybrid models to reduce vehicular emissions.
* Physical classes up to Class 5 have been suspended, with schools directed to shift to online mode.