Delhi government orders 50% work-from-home policy amid rising pollution levels

Delhi offices switch to work-from-home for 50% of employees as pollution worsens

As pollution levels in Delhi reach alarming highs, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government has directed that 50% of its employees work from home. The decision was made in response to the city’s worsening air quality, which has triggered severe health concerns.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the move via Twitter, stating, “To reduce pollution, the Delhi government has decided to implement work from home for 50% of its employees. A meeting with officials will be held at 1 pm today in the Secretariat to implement this policy.”

On Wednesday morning, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to a hazardous level, reaching 422, placing the city in the “severe” category. The dangerous air quality has prompted the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, V K Saxena, to implement staggered office timings for all government employees to minimize exposure during peak pollution hours.

Under the new order, Delhi government offices will operate from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm, while offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will function from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. This revised schedule will remain in effect until February 28, 2025.

The severe air pollution has triggered Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the strictest measure to address hazardous pollution. The action plan includes a ban on non-essential trucks entering the city, except those carrying essential goods or using cleaner fuels like LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. Light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi that do not run on CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity have also been banned. Additionally, all construction activities at public projects have been halted.

In response to the worsening air quality, Minister Gopal Rai also wrote to the Centre requesting approval for artificial rain in Delhi to help mitigate the pollution crisis. Rai urged the Centre to convene a meeting with experts from IIT Kanpur and various Union government agencies to explore solutions for improving the city’s air quality.

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