CHANDIGARH: The Haryana education department has directed district authorities to decide on the suspension of classes for students up to Class V as air quality worsens across the state. The directive follows the invocation of Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas due to severe air pollution.
A communication from the director general of school education advised district officials to assess local conditions and make decisions, particularly in districts reporting “very poor” or “severe” air quality. The move aligns with the advisory that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued to protect children’s health as pollution levels escalate.
Field fires add to crisis
A significant contributor to the pollution is crop residue burning (CRB). Haryana recorded 45 CRB incidents over two days, with Jind reporting 11 on Saturday alone. The state’s count for this season has reached 1,080.
What’s next
As the GRAP Stage 3 restrictions aim at curbing pollution, the Haryana govt is under pressure to mitigate the health risks for its citizens, schoolchildren particularly. District authorities are expected to take quick decisions on school operations while monitoring AQI levels and compliance with air quality advisories. This move underscores the urgency of addressing the dual challenges of pollution control and public safety, with the state’s air quality continuing to deteriorate in several regions.
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