Environmental News

Smog Levels In Delhi May Shut Schools

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The record shattering amount of smog in Delhi, Inda may have authorities closing the schools on the 2.6 million children living there. The smog is expected to remain for months as the colder weather moves in.

“We will only take decisions after consulting schools,” Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia said. “There has been a proposal to shut schools between 1 to 15 January. We are considering it.”

The toxic smog hovering over the city is primarily made up of engine exhaust, smoke from fires, dust, and industrial output. The pollution is between 15 and 30 times higher than the recommended guidelines provided by the World Health Organization.

One of the major issues that is delaying environmental changes is public awareness. “Many people in Delhi are not even are not even aware that what they see in the morning is not fog, it’s smog,” Vivek Chattopadhyaya, a scientist at the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment said to the Star Tribune. “They don’t realize what kind of pollutants they are breathing.”

The megacity has recently made bizarre attempts mitigate the poisonous fumes. Arvind Kerjiwal, the chief minister of Delhi, announced that after January 1st, cars can only be legally driven on alternating days based on the numbers on their license plates. Police are skeptical of this plan, and even admitted they had not been consulted about the new law, claiming that there would be issues enforcing the rule.  Even Kerjiwal backpedaled a few days later stating “If there are too many problems, it will be stopped. We will not do anything which will cause inconvenience to the public.”

Despite these setbacks, India is focusing on technology as a means to quell pollution, including its recent unveiling a global solar alliance with 120 other countries. “Clean air is a human right,” environment minister Prakash Javadekar told the The Guardian.

Immortal News reported in September that air pollution kills 3 million people worldwide each year.

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