As Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous air pollution, the city government has announced two major measures aimed at protecting public health while cushioning the economic impact on vulnerable workers. The decisions come amid persistently poor air quality and ongoing restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Rs 10,000 Relief for Affected Construction Workers
In a significant relief measure, the Delhi government has approved direct financial assistance for registered and verified construction workers whose livelihoods have been disrupted due to the suspension of construction activities. An amount of Rs 10,000 will be transferred directly to eligible workers’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
Construction work in the national capital remained suspended for 16 days while Delhi was under GRAP Stage 3 restrictions, severely impacting daily wage earners dependent on the sector. Officials said compensation related to GRAP Stage 4 restrictions will be assessed once the curbs are lifted and the overall impact is reviewed.
The government also clarified that the registration portal for construction workers remains open, allowing more workers to enrol and become eligible for financial assistance.
Work From Home for 50% Staff Across Offices
To reduce vehicular emissions and limit public exposure to toxic air, the Delhi government has made work from home mandatory for 50% of staff in all government and private offices across the city. Offices have also been instructed to adopt flexible working hours to ease peak-time congestion on roads and public transport.
However, the directive does not apply to essential services, which have been exempted to ensure uninterrupted operations. These include healthcare services, jails, public transport, electricity, and other critical departments.
Officials said the move is intended to significantly cut down daily commuting, a major contributor to vehicular pollution, while maintaining administrative and economic continuity.
Part of Broader Pollution-Control Strategy
The measures form part of the Delhi government’s broader strategy to tackle severe air pollution while balancing economic and social concerns. By combining restrictions with targeted financial support, the government aims to mitigate hardship for those most affected by pollution-related curbs.
Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’
The announcement comes as Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement on Wednesday morning. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 328, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. Large parts of the city remained shrouded in dense smog, with visibility reduced during early morning hours.
For context, an AQI reading between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.
With pollution levels still posing serious health risks, authorities indicated that further measures may be considered if air quality fails to improve in the coming days.
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