New Delhi: Amid the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, the Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad administration have ordered the suspension of physical classes till Class 12 in all schools. As per the order, studies will continue in online mode due to poor air quality.

The decision was announced as Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was imposed in the Delhi-NCR, which also includes the two western Uttar Pradesh districts.

“In view of the above, all schools of the District Gautam Buddh Nagar are directed to adhere to action enlisted under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan. Accordingly, it is directed that all schools shall discontinue physical classes from Pre-School to Class 12 till November 23 and conduct classes in online mode only,” GB Nagar District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said in an order.

Similarly, Ghaziabad District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh issued ordered the same, citing severe pollution levels.

“All schools from Class 1 to Class 12 in Ghaziabad will remain closed for offline classes and will operate exclusively in online mode until further notice,” Singh said, according Ghaziabad DM.

Highlighting public safety amid rising air pollution, Singh said the order will remain in place until further instructions are provided.

Further, night-time inspections were carried out at construction sites in Noida to ensure compliance with the ban on construction and demolition activities as per the GRAP orders, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board’s regional officer of Noida Utsav Sharma said.

Delhi Schools Shift to Online Mode

In the wake of the rising air pollution, all schools in Delhi have also been ordered to remain shut except for Classes 10 and 12 until further notice. From November 18, all schools across Delhi discontinued its physical classes except for Class 10 and Class 12.  In a tweet on X, the Delhi Chief Minister Atishi added that all schools would hold online classes until further notice.

Gurugram, Faridabad Schools Shut Till Class 5

Meanwhile, schools for all students till Class 5 have been ordered to shift online in Gurugram and Faridabad.

What is GRAP?

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a an anti-pollution measure that mandates specific actions to be taken at different levels of air pollution, ranging from moderate to severe. These actions include measures like banning certain industrial activities, road rationing and traffic diversions for heavy vehicles and controlling construction dust. The GRAP is invoked by the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

Given the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, the CAQM invoked GRAP-IV curbs on Sunday. The directions were effective from Monday (November 18) from 8 am. This move comes amid the significant rise in the national capital’s AQI, which crossed the 500-mark in several areas recently.