GB Nagar, Gzb schools to be shut till November 5

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: Following Delhi government’s decision to shut down schools till November 5, the district officials of Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad also issued orders to shut all schools till November 5. The directions were issued in the wake of severe pollution levels in national capital region.

According to the orders, due to high levels of pollutants all schools will remain shut for students of all classes.

Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate BN Singh, said, “School going children shouldn’t be made to suffer in the hazardous conditions. The break will also help bring pollution down by keeping hundreds of carbon-emitting buses and cars which ferry school children away from city roads.

“These actions are being taken under graded response action plan (Grap),” he added.

Ghaziabad DM Dr Ajay Shankar Pandey said the decision would be reviewed after two days.

“Vehicles run by schools and private vehicles used by parents to pick and drop children also contribute to pollution. To ensure the health of children does not get affected, we decided to close all schools,” Dr Pandey said in a statement on Sunday.

Following the order, over 455 primary government and 900 private primary schools in

Ghaziabad will remain shut on Monday and Tuesday.

“The decision will apply on the 455 basic education government schools, that have about 93,000 students enrolled, besides private schools” Rajesh Srivas, Ghaziabad’s basic education officer said.

The district has 401 government and 177 private senior secondary schools, said, Ravi Dutt, district inspector of schools (DIOS), Ghaziabad.

“All schools have been directed to be shut on November 4 and 5 and a review will be taken up on Tuesday. If pollution levels persist to be severe, a decision will be taken up accordingly,” he added.

Gautam Budh Nagar officials said the district has over 128 private and 41 senior-secondary government-aided schools.

“Besides these, 417 primary, 214 junior and 7 senior secondary schools run by the government will also be shut”, Neeraj Pandey, DIOS, Gautam Budh Nagar, said.

› School going children shouldn’t be allowed to suffer in the hazardous conditions. It will also help by grounding hundreds of carbon-emitting buses and cars which ferry students. BN SINGH, DM. Gautam Budh Nagar