Delhi schools, colleges to reopen on November 29: Gopal Rai

NEW DELHI: As air quality is improving, state environment minister Gopal Rai today said Delhi schools, colleges, educational institutes will reopen from November 29. Schools and colleges in the national capital were closed on November 13 after the Supreme Court termed the air pollution in Delhi an "emergency" situation.

Speaking to the press, the minister also said that "The air quality has been improving for the past three days. There were many restrictions imposed due to the air pollution. After the meeting, Delhi government has decided to allow the entry of all CNG, electric vehicles into Delhi from November 27. However, the entry of all other vehicles to remain banned till December 3."

He said all government offices will open from Monday. Rai urged government staff to use public transport and said special buses will be deployed for them.

The Delhi government on Monday lifted the ban on construction and demolition activities in view of an improvement in the air quality and inconvenience caused to workers.

A group of 140 parents recently wrote to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal seeking his intervention for reopening of schools that were closed due to deteriorating air quality.

However, the environment minister had on November 22 said that the Delhi will government will soon take a decision on school reopening as air quality is gradually improving. Strong surface winds brought some relief from high pollution levels in Delhi and improved visibility on Monday morning, officials said.

The Delhi government had on November 13 announced closure of schools and other educational institutions in view of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. The decision was taken after the Supreme Court slammed the state government for reopening the educational institutions after Diwali. Schools had reopened for all classes from November 1, after nearly 19 months of closure due to COVID-19.