New Delhi: With Delhi choking under severe air pollution, the Delhi government has announced mandatory work-from-home measures for offices across the national
capital as part of tighter restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Starting December 18, all government offices and private establishments in Delhi will be allowed to function with only 50 per cent physical attendance, while the remaining staff must work from home. Offices have also been directed to introduce flexible working hours to reduce peak-hour congestion and vehicular emissions. Essential services such as health facilities, jails, public transport, electricity and other critical departments have been exempted from the new restrictions.
The decision was announced by the Labour Department amid sustained “severe” air quality levels and the implementation of GRAP Stage 4, the strictest set of anti-pollution curbs. The government has warned that penalties will be imposed on institutions and individuals found violating the work-from-home norms.
In addition to office restrictions, the Delhi government has urged residents to adopt car pooling as a measure to cut down vehicular emissions.
The government has also announced Rs 10,000 compensation for registered construction workers whose livelihoods have been affected due to the suspension of construction activities under GRAP 3 and above. Construction work has remained halted for weeks as part of pollution control measures.
Additionally, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that from December 18, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will be denied fuel at petrol pumps across Delhi. Automated cameras installed at fuel stations will identify non-compliant vehicles and fuel will be refused without exception. Over eight lakh vehicles in Delhi are currently operating without valid PUC certificates, the minister said.
Further tightening entry norms, the government has also restricted the entry of non-BS VI vehicles from outside Delhi until further notice. The move is expected to affect lakhs of daily commuters from neighbouring cities such as Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad.
The combined measures aim to significantly reduce traffic volume, emissions and exposure to hazardous air as authorities struggle to bring down pollution levels.
