Delhi faced a severe environmental crisis on Wednesday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital soared to an alarming 526, marking the ‘hazardous’ zone. This significant decline in air quality prompted the Delhi government to take immediate measures to mitigate pollution and safeguard public health.
Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai announced that government offices in the city would transition to a work-from-home model for 50% of their employees. "To reduce pollution, the Delhi government decided to implement work-from-home for 50% of employees in government offices. For its implementation, a meeting will be held with the officials at 1 pm today in the Secretariat,” Rai tweeted in Hindi.
The hazardous air quality levels were reflected across multiple areas in Delhi. Ashok Vihar Phase 2 recorded an AQI of 527, and similar alarming figures were reported in other parts of the city. The situation has put the health of millions of Delhiites at risk, with concerns about respiratory ailments and other health issues rising.
Earlier, the government had introduced staggered office timings for its employees and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to reduce traffic and curb pollution levels. MCD office timings were fixed from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, while Delhi government offices were scheduled from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
In addition to the work-from-home initiative, the Delhi Police conducted vehicle checks on Tuesday night to enforce Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This phase prohibits the operation of Delhi-registered BS-IV and older diesel-operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), except those involved in essential services. These measures aim to reduce vehicular emissions, a major contributor to air pollution in the city.
The Delhi government’s decision reflects the urgency of tackling the deteriorating air quality. While the work-from-home policy for government employees may help reduce pollution from vehicular traffic, it underscores the need for long-term solutions to address Delhi's chronic air pollution crisis. As citizens brace for the health impacts of hazardous air, the effectiveness of these emergency measures will be closely watched.
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