Delhi Government Implements Work-from-Home for 50% Employees Amid Severe Pollution

As air pollution in Delhi reaches alarming levels, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has directed 50% of its employees to work from home to mitigate the crisis.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the decision on social media, stating:
“To reduce pollution, the Delhi government has decided to implement work-from-home for 50% of its employees. A meeting with officials will be held at 1 pm today at the Secretariat to finalize implementation.”

Pollution Hits “Severe” Levels

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to 422 on Wednesday morning, placing it in the “severe” category. The deteriorating air quality has triggered Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the strictest set of measures designed to combat hazardous pollution.

GRAP Stage IV Measures

Key restrictions under Stage IV include:
– Truck Entry Ban: Only trucks carrying essential items or operating on LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electric power are allowed entry.
– Light Commercial Vehicles: Non-essential vehicles from outside Delhi are banned unless running on CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electric power.
– Construction Halts: All construction and demolition activities for public projects have been suspended.

The government’s move comes as Delhi residents face increasingly hazardous air quality, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to combat pollution.