With Delhi’s AQI rising and GRAP IV measures in effect, the state government has directed all administrative secretaries and heads of departments to report to office regularly, limiting physical presence of employees to 50 percent.
The government’s decision comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed measure IV. stages under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect amid rising air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
“The remaining 50 percent of the staff will work from home provided that the Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments may call officers/officials to the office as required to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential and emergency public services,” a PTI report said, citing a government order issued on Saturday 13.
The ordinance directed all private offices in Delhi to operate with a maximum of 50% of employees physically present at the workplace.
“The remaining employees will be required to work from home,” he added.
The government has also encouraged all private entities to adopt flexible working hours where possible.
Which entities are exempt from the order?
“Hospitals and other public/private health facilities, fire services, prisons, public transport, electricity, water, sanitation and related utilities, disaster management and related services, forest and environmental departments/agencies engaged in air pollution control, monitoring and enforcement activities (such as teams deployed to curb biomass burning, dust, GRAP measures, etc.) and other necessary/mandated regulations shall be exempted from these instructions.
Apart from the authorities, the order directed the government, state-aided and unaided recognized private schools under the Directorate of Education, NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board to offer both physical and online courses whenever possible till further orders.
The Directorate of Education in Delhi has directed all schools to hold classes for students up to class IX and XI in hybrid mode due to deteriorating air quality in the national capital.
CAQM has previously introduced restrictions III. stages under GRAP, including conversion to hybrid classes up to Class V and ban on construction and demolition activities as pollution levels rose due to adverse weather conditions in Delhi-NCR, the report said.
Air quality in Delhi
On Saturday, December 13, Delhi’s AQI reached the ‘north’ category with visuals showing thick smog blanketing the national capital.
Delhi’s overall AQI rose to 457 at 10 pm on Saturday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 “moderate”, 201 to 300 “poor”, 301 to 400 “very poor”, and 401 to 500 “always”.
