Air pollution: Schools shut, halt to construction work in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, Nov 7:In view of air pollution touching alarming levels, Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari on Tuesday ordered the closure of both government and private schools up to Class V for two days, said a senior officer.

Besides, the district magistrate also ordered a complete halt to construction activities in the city for a week, sprinkling of water on roads and penalising citizens if found disposing off garbage in the open.

"The District Magistrate has also recommended to close 15 polluting industrial units and impose penalties on five construction companies for violating orders," said District Information Officer (DIO) Raj Bahadur Singh.

According to him, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), municipal corporation, Jal Nigam, Public Works Department and the National Highway Authority of India have been asked to take extraordinary measures to curb pollution.

"We have immediately complied with the orders of the DM, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Authority, with immediate effect. Water was sprinkled on all major roads in Indirapuram, link roads, and parts of NH 24 and NH 58, among others," said GDA Secretary Ravendra Madhukar Godbole.

"We are complying with the order to stop construction activities at sensitive locations in the city," added