Essential services—including hospitals, private health facilities, fire services, public transport, water supply and sanitation—have been exempted. Private establishments have also been asked to introduce staggered working hours wherever feasible and minimise office-related vehicular movement
People raise slogans during a protest against worsening air quality in the national capital, at the India Gate, on Sunday. Pic/PTI
In view of the persistently high air pollution levels in the national capital, the Delhi Government on Monday ordered all the government departments and private offices to operate with only 50 per cent staff physically present, while the remaining employees will mandatorily work from home under Stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), news agency PTI reported.
The directions, issued by the environment department under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, took effect immediately and apply to all Delhi Government offices as well as private establishments.
Essential services—including hospitals, private health facilities, fire services, public transport, water supply and sanitation—have been exempted, PTI reported.
According to the order issued in the name of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, all private offices in Delhi must ensure that only half their workforce attends work in person, while the rest follows work-from-home protocols. Private establishments have also been asked to introduce staggered working hours wherever feasible and minimise office-related vehicular movement.
District magistrates, deputy commissioners of police, and local bodies have been instructed to enforce compliance across Delhi, PTI reported.
Notably, this is the first time authorities have made 50 per cent work-from-home “mandatory” for private offices; earlier directives were only advisory in nature.
“Violation of the directions issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, or rules made thereunder shall be punishable under Section 15 and 16 of the Act and other applicable laws,” the order stated.
The directive also applies to government departments—administrative secretaries and heads of departments will attend office regularly, but not more than 50 per cent staff may be physically present. The remaining personnel will work from home.
Delhi’s air quality remained grim on Monday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 382—near the ‘severe’ threshold—for the eleventh consecutive day. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that 15 out of 38 monitoring stations recorded readings above 400, categorised as ‘severe’. Stations at ITO, Punjabi Bagh, Patparganj, Ashok Vihar, Sonia Vihar, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Narela, and Bawana were among the worst affected.
The Environment Department said vehicular emissions continue to be a major contributor, noting that the Decision Support System (DSS) of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology estimated vehicles accounted for 21.6 per cent of the city’s pollution on Monday—higher than any other source. Stubble burning contributed 1.8 per cent.
Given the severe pollution scenario in the winter months, the entire Union Territory of Delhi has been declared an Air Pollution Control Area. The government said further restrictions on vehicular movement were necessary to curb emissions during GRAP Stage-3.
According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 0–50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.
(With PTI inputs)
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