Air Pollution: Delhi schools closed again after SC raps Kejriwal govt

The Delhi government has closed schools again from Friday due to air pollution levels in the Capital.

The Supreme Court on Thursday hauled the Arvind Kejriwal government on coals over Delhi's air pollution.

The top court expressed dissatisfaction with the government measures to tackle air pollution.

"We feel that nothing is happening and pollution keeps increasing... only time being wasted," Chief Justice NV Ramana snapped at the Delhi government.

Slamming Delhi govt's decision to reopen schools, the top court said that "three-year-olds and four-year-olds are going to schools but adults are working from home".

The court sought clarity from the Kejriwal govt on what it is doing on schools and offices.

The court also came down hard on the Delhi government over its 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign to curb vehicular pollution, saying it was nothing but a popular slogan.

Also Watch: Delhi Pollution: 'Look at signal we're sending to world', says Supreme Court

"Poor young boys standing in the middle of the road with banners, who is taking care of their health?" an angry court asked.

In response, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi govt, said the "boys" were civil volunteers.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had initiated the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign from October 21 to November 15, saying that even if 10 lakh vehicles in the city joined the campaign, the PM10 levels would fall by 1.5 tonnes and PM2.5 by 0.4 tonnes in a year.

Under the initiative, government officials from the transport department, volunteers and traffic police urge commuters to switch off their vehicles while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.