Air Quality Is Still Poor And Gets Strong Court Warning, New Delhi Will Open Schools And Campuses

Illustration of air pollution in India in 2019. (Wikimedia Commons/Prami.ap90)

JAKARTA - New Delhi, India's schools and college campuses, which were closed 10 days ago amid a crisis of poor air quality, will reopen on Monday.

This is based on the government's announcement of New Delhi's Chief Minister Arvins Kejriwal leaving hours after the Supreme Court again made sharp comments on pollution in the city.

However, the court also said, "If the situation improves, some of the bans may be lifted."

"Air quality in Delhi is improving now. Schools, colleges, and educational institutions will reopen from Monday," Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters, citing NDTV on November 25.

Although the air quality in the nation's capital has improved slightly, it is still in the 'very bad' category. The toxic air also continued to blanket the neighboring towns.

All Delhi government offices will also reopen from Monday, Rai said, urging staff to use public transport. A special bus will be prepared for them, he added.

"We advise them to use public transport to travel. A special bus service will start from the colony where the maximum number of Delhi government employees resides," he said.

On Monday, the government of Arvind Kejriwal lifted a ban on construction activities days after the city experienced a series of restrictions, as smog blanketed the national capital after Diwali.

Previously, the Supreme Court again gave a series of assertive statements on the continuing air crisis as the trial on pollution entered its third week.

"This is the nation's capital. Look at the signals we send out to the world. You have to predict the situation based on statistics and take precautionary measures so that the situation doesn't worsen."

"Even if pollution levels drop now, we will continue to listen to the case and issue directives," the high court firmly warned.