Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday called an emergency meeting to tackle air pollution after Supreme Court asked authorities to take immediate measures. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Environment Minister Gopal Rai and Delhi Chief Secretary took part in the meeting. Earlier, the Supreme Court suggested the federal government for a two days lockdown to tackle air pollution in the national capital. A Bench of Chief Justice of India N.V. Raman, Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant said, "Tell us how we can reduce AQI from 500 at least by 200 points. Take some urgent measures. Can you think of two days lockdown or something? How can people live?" The Kejriwal's government asked employees to work from home, close down schools and suspend construction works as the air quality dipped to alarming levels on Saturday. After an emergency meeting to discuss ways to improve air quality in the capital and national capital region Saturday, Kejriwal told media persons that government employees will go for a one-week work from home while schools will be shut on Monday and construction works would be suspended. "For a week from Monday onwards, schools will be physically closed so children don't have to breathe polluted air. Construction activities will not to be allowed between Nov. 14 and 17," Kejriwal told media persons after the meeting. "Government offices will operate from home at 100 percent capacity for a week. Private offices will be issued an advisory to go for work from home option as much as possible," he added. Kejriwal also said that his government is mulling a complete lockdown in the capital if the air quality is not improving. The Central Pollution Control Board of India said Air Quality Index in Delhi was 427 at 6.30 pm local time, which is above the 400 mark considered safe. After the festival of Diwali last week, people in Delhi and National Capital Region and major surrounding cities such as Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad have been suffering from a deadly polluted air as the air quality deteriorated due to bursting firecrackers. The government had imposed a ban on firecrackers but the people in the region violated the same leading to the shocking dip in air quality. Every year, New Delhi and surrounding areas are suffering from acute air pollution in winter due to excessive use of fossil fuels, bursting of firecracker and burning of rubbles by farmers in the neighborhood. The Supreme Court asked the federal and local governments to take an emergency decision. "We will look at a long term solution later," the Supreme Court said. The Apex Court said that air quality in Delhi is in the 'severe' category and in another two to three days it will dip further. The Court asked the Centre to take an emergency decision. "We will look at a long term solution later," the Court added. Supreme Court also asked the Delhi government about what happened to its decision to install smog towers and emission control projects. Supreme Court told the Delhi government that it has opened all schools in the national capital and now children lungs are exposed to the pollutants. "This is not the Centre's but your jurisdiction. What is happening on that front?" asked the Apex Court from the Delhi government. — Agencies
