Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has made the tough call to shift all classes online for students, with the exception of those in Class 10 and 12, due to dangerously high levels of air pollution. This announcement came on the evening of November 17, 2024, coinciding with the onset of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-IV), which aims to tackle the deteriorative air quality engulfing the national capital.
"With the imposition of GRAP-IV from tomorrow, physical classes will be stopped for all students, except for Classes 10 and 12. All schools will switch to online classes until any future orders," CM Atishi shared on X.
The decision to move to online education was sparked by alarming data from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), indicating heightened pollution levels and significant air quality decline owing to adverse meteorological conditions. From Sunday evening, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached levels previously classified as ‘Severe+’ — peaking at 441 initially and soaring to 457 by 7 p.m.
The recent emergency meeting convened by the sub-committee to operationalize GRAP underscored the seriousness of the situation, urging swift actions to combat what locals have been describing as living inside a "gas chamber." This air quality degradation has not only threatened health but also caused disruptions far beyond classroom learning, affecting transport services and visibility.
The smog blanketing the city forced the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue alerts of thick fog, compounding visibility issues and leading to numerous flight delays. By November 18, air quality dropped to hazardous levels, registering 481 on the AQI scale at 7 am, marking it as ‘hazardous’ and highlighting the health risks for sensitive groups.
This week’s pollution crisis echoes the Supreme Court’s previous admonishments aimed at the Delhi government and its adjoining states, Punjab and Haryana. The apex court has demanded updates on the status of stubble burning—an issue frequently blamed for Delhi's pollution—and has called for strict adherence to measures already on the books. The court has insisted on clearer accountability from local authorities on the implementation of the firecrackers ban, particularly against the backdrop of increased pollution during festivities.
The implementation of the GRAP's Stage-IV measures signals not just educational disruptions but various restrictions across Delhi-NCR aimed at restoring air quality. Major actions include barring truck traffic with exceptions for essentials and mandatorily eliminating specific diesel-operated vehicles from roadways to reduce emissions. The CAQM aims to see collective responsibility among various state agencies to enforce compliance rigorously.
A roadmap forward has been outlined, emphasizing the need for citizens to aid authorities by following air quality advisory guidelines, which especially encourage children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions to limit outdoor activities as much as possible.
The Delhi NCR area has become synonymous with air quality crises year after year, and it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in combating the acute pollution woes we face, especially with the winter months around the corner, when air quality tends to worsen significantly.
On the political front, Robert Vadra has called the situation shameful, expressing dismay at how political entities like the AAP and BJP have turned the dire air quality scenario for Delhi residents, igniting blame games rather than focusing on solutions. His remarks capture the fraught relationship between elected officials and the public’s increasing frustration with the recurring environmental issues.
With educational institutions transitioning to virtual realms once again, parents and educators are left grappling with the logistics of online learning as safety concerns take precedence over traditional classroom settings. The ripple effect of these decisions will be felt across the lives of millions as the air quality crisis looms large, commanding urgent attention and action across all sectors of society.
