Delhi Schools to Breathe Easier: 10,000 Classrooms to Get Air Purifiers Amid Pollution Crisis
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In a bid to tackle the city's deteriorating air quality, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood announced that air purifiers will be installed in 10,000 classrooms across the city. This move is part of the government's long-term strategy to address pollution, which has become a pressing concern for students' health. According to Sood, the initiative will be rolled out in phases, starting with the installation of air purifiers in 10,000 classrooms. This is a significant step, considering there are around 38,000 classrooms in the city. The government has already floated tenders for the project. Sood emphasized that the administration is focused on implementing concrete measures to combat pollution, rather than relying on publicity-driven initiatives. He took a swipe at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which had introduced schemes like the Odd-Even policy and 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign, but failed to deliver sustained results. The minister also announced plans to use environment cess to procure mechanical road sweepers for each assembly constituency and provide funds to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for similar purchases. He accused the previous government of neglecting the civic body and not releasing salaries for sanitation workers. Sood cited a CAG report, which found that 30 per cent of air quality monitoring stations were deliberately installed in green areas to understate pollution levels in 2017-18. He attributed the city's pollution problem to years of administrative negligence rather than seasonal factors. To tackle the issue, the government has made the use of recycled construction material mandatory in construction projects from October 11 this year. Additionally, payments for civil works will not be released without compliance with this rule. The Bhalswa landfill is also targeted for complete remediation by September 2026, with a tender floated for the disposal of 18 lakh metric tonnes of waste. The Delhi government's efforts aim to provide a healthier environment for students and residents, and the results of these initiatives are expected to be visible on the ground soon.
