Delhi's air quality worsens, 50% government employees turn to work-from-home

Delhi’s escalating pollution crisis has forced the government to implement work-from-home measures for half of its employees in an effort to reduce emissions, an ANI report says. Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the decision on Wednesday, citing the urgent need to address the alarming air quality levels in the national capital.

The move comes as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged into the ‘severe’ category, recording a grim 424 on the pollution scale early Wednesday. This level far exceeds the World Health Organization’s safe threshold of 15 mg/m³ for PM2.5 exposure, leaving Delhi shrouded in a thick blanket of smog that has reduced visibility and posed significant health risks.

Sharing the decision on his X handle, Rai wrote, “To reduce pollution, Delhi government decided to work from home in government offices. 50 per cent employees will work from home.” He further announced a meeting with officials to finalise the implementation of this directive.

This is not the government’s first attempt to combat pollution during critical periods. Rai revealed that the Delhi government had previously explored cloud seeding as a measure to induce artificial rain, which could help disperse the smog. However, efforts to convene an emergency meeting with central agencies for cloud seeding had been delayed, despite requests made since August.

“Until the smog layer is broken, pollution levels will remain critical. We’ve banned older vehicles, restricted diesel buses and trucks from entering Delhi, and staggered office timings,” Rai said. Schools for grades 10 and 12 have also been closed, and the government is weighing the possibility of reintroducing the odd-even vehicle rule.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has already activated the highest stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This includes a halt to public construction projects, bans on trucks entering the city, and other stringent restrictions.

Experts, however, remain divided on the impact of these measures, with concerns that they may not be enough to bring immediate relief. Despite the restrictions, PM2.5 levels in Delhi remain alarmingly high, raising fears of prolonged health hazards for its residents.

As the crisis deepens, the Delhi government is seeking urgent collaboration with the central government and institutions like IIT Kanpur to deploy all possible measures, including cloud seeding. “We are continuously working on solutions within our reach, but we need coordinated action to make a significant difference,” Rai emphasized.

For now, Delhiites brace themselves for the smog while hoping these measures provide some respite from the choking air enveloping their city.

(with ANI inputs)