Delhi govt advises private offices to allow 50% of employees to work from home amid 'very poor' air quality

The Delhi government on Saturday asked private offices in the capital to operate with 50 per cent staff on site and allow the remaining employees to work from home. The advisory has been issued under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan and follows the latest directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management.

Delhi’s air quality stayed in the very poor range for the ninth straight day, with the Central Pollution Control Board recording an overall Air Quality Index of 370. Eleven monitoring stations reported readings in the severe category, prompting the government to push stricter measures.

Officials said private offices must follow the 50% on-site cap and ensure the advisory is communicated across all branches. GRAP is a tiered framework that activates measures based on AQI levels. Stage I applies when the AQI is between 201 and 300. Stage II is for 301 to 400. Stage III is enforced when the AQI touches 401 to 450. Stage IV is triggered when levels cross 451.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the government is implementing all pollution-control measures under GRAP Stage III “with full seriousness and round-the-clock monitoring.” He said the city’s air quality is being tracked continuously with a focus on protecting vulnerable groups.

The government has already put staggered office timings in place for its departments and for offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi until February 2025. MCD offices will function from 8:30 am to 5 pm, and Delhi government offices will work from 10 am to 6:30 pm to help reduce peak-hour traffic and emissions.

Sirsa said more than 2,000 enforcement personnel from different departments are on the ground to ensure compliance with pollution norms. Over 1,200 inspections of construction sites and polluting units have been completed. These checks have led to more than 200 show-cause notices and 50 closure orders for violating sites.

The minister urged residents to avoid open burning of waste and biomass and to stay alert about dust pollution. Citizens have been asked to report violations through the Green Delhi app.

Sirsa said, “These restrictions are part of an intensified implementation of pollution-control measures. Delhi is acting with urgency and responsibility.”