New Delhi: With air pollution levels continuing to deteriorate in the national capital, the Delhi government on Wednesday announced a fresh set of stringent measures under the implementation of GRAP-4 (Graded Response Action Plan-4), including mandatory 50 per cent work-from-home across offices.
Addressing the media, Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said that all government and private offices will operate with a maximum of 50 per cent staff on-site, while the remaining employees will work from home starting Thursday. Essential services such as healthcare, fire services, disaster management and transport departments have been exempted from the order.
The announcement comes a day after the government decided that vehicles without valid pollution under control (PUC) certificates will not be provided petrol or diesel in the capital.
Mishra said several key decisions have been taken under the labour department following the enforcement of GRAP-4. He pointed out that GRAP-3 had remained in force for 16 days, during which construction activities were halted. As compensation, the government has decided to provide ₹10,000 to registered and verified construction workers affected by the ban.
He added that the duration of GRAP-4 will also be factored in while extending relief measures. Payments to construction workers will be transferred directly to their bank accounts after verification.
Taking a swipe at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Mishra accused it of failing to address Delhi’s pollution crisis. “We admit one thing — 30 years of pollution cannot be eliminated in a few months. But is it our fault that the chief minister is a woman and is being attacked in this manner?” he said.
He alleged that the AAP government did not take any concrete steps to control pollution during its tenure and made false claims in affidavits while failing to honour commitments made in court.
Mishra asserted that while the AAP failed to curb pollution, the current government is determined to do so. He appealed that pollution should not be turned into a political issue and stressed that all efforts are being made to protect public health amid worsening air quality in the capital.
