50% Staff To Work From Home, Schools Till Class XI In Hybrid Mode As Delhi Pollution Worsens

The Delhi government has directed all government and private schools to hold classes till Class XI in hybrid mode, and 50% staff at government and private offices have been asked to work from home as stricter pollution norms came into effect on Saturday.

The decision came after the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital plunged to 441 (Severe) at 6 pm today, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to impose measures under stage four of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR.

“Accordingly, in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality, the Sub Committee on GRAP hereby decide to invoke all actions under Stage-/V (“Severe+’ AQI of Delhi >450) of the extant schedule of GRAP (read with paras

6, 7 & 8 below), with immediate effect in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in Delhi-NCR, in addition to the Stage-I, II and III actions already in force,” the CAQM said.

50% Staff To Work From Home

“Directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to all Government Offices under GNCTD and all Private Offices operating within the National Capital Territory of Delhi, to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home under Graded Response Action Plan,” the government said in the order issued as per CAQM direction.

The government had issued similar directives to government and private offices to cap on-site attendance on November 24 as GRAP-III measures were in effect at the time, although the directive was later revoked when the air pollution curbs were withdrawn.

Schools In Hybrid Mode

Delhi’s Directorate of Education directed all government and private schools in the national capital to conduct classes in Hybrid mode – both physical and online mode – for children up to Class IX and XI (except Class X) with immediate effect until further orders.

“The option to exercise the online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians. Further, all Heads of Schools are directed to disseminate this information to the parents and guardians of the students immediately,” it said.

Delhi’s AQI Declines To ‘Severe’

Meanwhile, the NCR Pollution Control Boards and Committee, along with other agencies concerned, have been asked to escalate the preventive measures to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region.

“The AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 431 today at 4 PM exhibited an increasing trend and has been recorded 441 at 6 PM on date owing to slow wind speed, stable atmosphere, unfavourable weather parameters and meteorological conditions and lack of dispersal of pollutants,” the CAQM said in its notification on Saturday.

Under Stage IV restrictions, entry of trucks into Delhi will be prohibited, except those carrying essential commodities and vehicles running on LNG/CNG, electric power, or compliant with BS-VI norms. Schools will operate in a hybrid mode for Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11, with online and offline classes conducted wherever feasible.

Under Stage IV, state governments are also asked to consider additional emergency steps, such as closing colleges and educational institutions, shutting non-essential commercial activities and even introducing odd-even rules for vehicles if the pollution situation worsens further.

During winters, the Delhi-NCR region enforces restrictions under GRAP, which categorises air quality into four stages – Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI above 450). Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicle emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, lead to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters.