By Omotayo Edubi
Authorities in India took a major step on Thursday by shutting down schools in New Delhi which is considered the world’s most polluted capital city according to the Swiss company AQAir, which specializes in measuring air quality.
Although, educational centers reopened three days ago after being closed for two weeks, the situation has however gone from “very poor” to “dangerous” once again.
“We had reopened schools considering the forecast that air quality would improve. However, the air pollution levels have increased again and we have decided to shut schools from Friday till further orders,” Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai told the media.
The air quality index (AQI) on Thursday was classified as “dangerous,” reaching a peak of 453 at its worst in a scale that only goes up to a maximum of 500, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
The Supreme Court of India, which for almost a month has urged for action from the central and regional governments, on Thursday gave them 24 hours to take measures to address air toxicity levels in the city.
The alarming deterioration in the air quality of New Delhi is common at this time of year when a number of factors such as the arrival of winter and the decrease in winds that prevent the dispersion of pollutants coincide.
The toxic air of New Delhi is as a result of vehicle emissions, construction dust, particles originating from the burning of stubble in agricultural areas and the constant burning of solid waste of this city of 20 million inhabitants.