Decision On Reopening Delhi Schools By Friday, Says Pollution Panel

The decision will be based on the impact of relaxations that are already being made for industrial units.

A decision on the reopening of schools and lifting of construction ban will be taken on or before December 17, and will be based on the impact of relaxations that are already being made for industrial units, the air quality commission told the Supreme Court today ahead of a hearing tomorrow. The court had last week noted that the air quality in the national capital had started improving, and had directed the pollution panel to take a decision on relaxing restrictions imposed by the court on sources of pollution - including industries, constructions, and factories - in the national capital.

The court had left it to the panel to consider requests made by industry owners and other affected parties for a personal hearing and take their inputs.

The panel today wrote to the court informing it of the steps that have already been taken and said it will monitor the impact of these decisions and then take a call on the reopening of schools.

Six thermal power plants, which had been shut, have been allowed to resume operations due to the power demand surging as extreme winter conditions set in, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) told the court.