Rohtak (Haryana): On Sunday, the district administrations of Panipat, Sonepat, and Rohtak announced the closure of primary schools due to ongoing poor air quality. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that Sonepat’s air quality index (AQI) has been categorized as ‘very poor’ for the past week, reaching 350 today. The district’s PM 2.5 levels peaked at 439, while PM10 levels hit 451, both classified as severe. Panipat recorded an AQI of 302, also in the ‘very poor’ range, with PM 2.5 at 331 and PM10 at 313.
Panipat’s Deputy Commissioner, Virender Kumar Dahiya, stated that following instructions from the Director General of the Elementary Education Department, all schools—government, semi-government, and private—will suspend classes for up to fifth grade starting November 18 until further notice. Sonepat’s Deputy Commissioner, Manoj Kumar, confirmed that due to the poor air quality recorded on November 17, classes for up to fifth grade would also be suspended in both urban and rural areas of Sonepat. He mentioned that online classes would continue for all schools in the district and emphasized the need for strict adherence to these orders.
Additionally, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) issued a show-cause notice and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh as environmental compensation on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for violating the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) norms. This decision followed an inspection prompted by complaints regarding violations during the construction of an underpass at Baghola village on NH-19. The inspection revealed several infractions, including dust accumulation, uncovered construction materials, construction waste, and a lack of necessary dust mitigation measures such as anti-smog guns and wind-breaking walls.