Closure of primary schools in New Delhi, plagued by high air pollution











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NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Primary schools in New Delhi will close from Saturday due to levels of air pollution deemed unsafe and traffic control measures are being considered, the minister said on Friday. Delhi leader, Arvind Kejriwal.

Many residents of the capital complain of respiratory discomfort, irritation in the eyes, nose and throat with a level of particles harmful to health nearly 40 times higher than the limit set by the Organization World Health Organization (WHO), according to data from the Center for Pollution Control.

This pollution not only has an impact on people suffering from pathologies but also on people in good health.

“We are closing all primary schools in Delhi from tomorrow,” Arvind Kejriwal told a news conference, adding that outdoor activities would also be cut for young children.

The entry of the capital was also prohibited Thursday evening to trucks running on diesel and transporting non-essential goods.

This decision follows a flood of anguished testimonies from parents on social networks, but also alerts from environmental organizations, which urged the public authorities to act.

New Delhi, which has 20 million inhabitants, is considered the most polluted capital on the planet. The winter season is the most critical, with the appearance of a “smog”, a yellowish fog linked to emissions from vehicles, factories, but also agricultural burning in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana, before the new harvests. .

(Report Tanvi Mehta, French version Sophie Louet, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)










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