Delhi orders 50% work-from-home for offices amid severe pollution levels
What's the story
The Delhi government has ordered all government and private offices in the national capital to operate with only 50% of their staff physically present. The rest are required to work from home. This decision is part of emergency measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The order was issued by the Department of Environment & Forests under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Pollution crisis
Delhi's air quality deteriorates, prompting government action
The order comes as Delhi's air quality continues to deteriorate, with pollution levels crossing permissible limits. PM2.5 and PM10 levels have been especially alarming during the peak winter months. Since mid-October, various stages of GRAP have been implemented at the direction of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The city has been declared an air pollution control area since 1987.
Compliance measures
GRAP Stage III measures include staff cap, staggered timings
The order mandates all government offices under the Government of the National Capital Territory (GNCTD) to ensure that no more than 50% of their staff are physically present. Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments can call additional employees only if required for emergency and public services. Private offices have also been asked to limit attendance to 50%, with the remaining workforce working from home.
Exemptions
Essential services exempted from staff cap
Essential services, including hospitals, health facilities, fire services, public transport departments, electricity and water utilities, are exempted from this order. Other essential services include sanitation bodies, disaster management units and pollution control or enforcement agencies. The order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the end of GRAP Stage III. District Magistrates and local bodies have been tasked with ensuring compliance across all offices.
Penalties
Violations of order to attract penalties
Violations of this order will attract penalties under Sections 15 and 16 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Environment Department has circulated the directive across all government departments and asked the IT Department to publish it prominently on the Delhi government website. This comes as Delhi's air quality remains grim, with an overall AQI of 382 on Monday, even as 15 monitoring stations logged readings beyond the 400-mark, PTI reported, citing data from the Central Pollution Control Board.