In response to the alarming rise in air pollution, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has implemented a work-from-home directive for 50% of its employees. Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, announced the decision via a tweet, citing the need to reduce pollution levels.
On Wednesday morning, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to a “severe” level of 422, prompting immediate measures to curb the impact of the pollution crisis. The directive follows an earlier order by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who announced staggered office timings for all government employees as part of the city’s response plan. The new office hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and 10:00 am to 6:30 pm for Delhi government offices. This revised schedule will remain in place until February 28, 2025.
As Delhi enters Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)—the strictest level of response—further measures have been activated to reduce air pollution. These include a ban on the entry of non-essential trucks and light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi, except for those powered by CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. The city has also halted construction activities at public projects to mitigate dust pollution.
In a bid to address the crisis, Gopal Rai wrote to the Union government on Tuesday, requesting approval for artificial rain to help improve the city’s air quality. He also called for a meeting with experts from IIT Kanpur and Union government agencies to explore additional solutions for tackling the worsening pollution.
As the city battles hazardous air quality, officials are under pressure to implement more effective strategies to protect residents’ health and reduce the environmental impact of the pollution.
