Delhi Air Pollution: Schools Hybrid as GRAP 3 Invoked

The Centre invoked Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) today. This decision followed a significant rise in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), placing it in the ‘severe’ category. The government directed schools to implement a hybrid learning model for classes up to the fifth grade. This allows parents and students the option to choose online classes wherever feasible, aiming to limit exposure to hazardous air.

Air Quality Deteriorates, GRAP 3 Imposed

Delhi’s average AQI escalated sharply from 362 on November 10 to 425 this morning. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) attributed this spike to specific meteorological conditions. These include calm winds, a stable atmosphere, and other unfavorable weather patterns. Such conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing, causing them to accumulate dangerously close to the surface.

An AQI in the ‘severe’ category signifies a serious health risk. It can affect healthy individuals and severely impact those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions. The invocation of GRAP Stage 3 mandates specific anti-pollution measures. While the full list of GRAP 3 measures includes restrictions on construction and vehicle use, the immediate public impact highlighted is the change in school operations.

Hybrid Learning for Younger Students

The directive for hybrid learning applies to students in classes up to the fifth grade. This policy provides families with a choice: send children to physical school or opt for online instruction. The aim is to reduce young children’s exposure to the severe air quality. This measure acknowledges the heightened vulnerability of younger students to air pollution’s health effects, offering a flexible solution during critical pollution periods.

Public Outcry and Protests

The deteriorating air quality has sparked widespread public discontent, leading to protests across Delhi. Students organized demonstrations to demand immediate government intervention. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) gathered outside Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s residence. Protesters called for accountability and effective action. They displayed placards, including one poignant message: “I miss breathing.” These demonstrations underscore the community’s frustration with the ongoing environmental crisis.

India Gate Protest Leads to Detentions

On Sunday, parents and environmental activists converged at India Gate. They protested against Delhi’s designation as a “gas chamber,” demanding urgent governmental action for clean air. Police officers subsequently detained hundreds of protesters. Activists from organizations such as the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), and Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) were among those taken into custody. Police officials cited the absence of permission for assembling at the historic site.

Environmentalist Bhavreen Khandari spoke to reporters at the protest site. “We want to meet our elected officials,” Khandari stated directly. “We sought an appointment with the chief minister but were refused. So many parents are here because their children are suffering from this pollution.”

Another demonstrator, Abhishek, expressed strong criticism regarding the government’s performance. “The government failed to provide even the basic right, to breathe clean air,” Abhishek asserted. He drew a historical comparison: “During former chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s term, Delhi was known as a green capital. Today, it ranks among the most polluted cities in the world. Politicians keep blaming each other instead of taking responsibility for the crisis.”

Recent Air Quality Index Readings

Authorities continue to monitor the air quality situation closely. The GRAP 3 measures remain in effect. Further updates regarding pollution control strategies and potential changes to school operations will be issued as environmental conditions evolve.