Delhi Govt. Directs 50% Employees to Work From Home as Pollution Reaches ‘Severe’ Levels

As Delhi battles an alarming surge in air pollution, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government has implemented a work-from-home directive for 50% of its employees. This decision comes as the national capital grapples with hazardous air quality, with levels recorded at 424 in the “severe” category on Wednesday morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai confirmed the move in a post on social media, stating, “To reduce pollution, the Delhi government decided to implement work from home in government offices. 50% of employees will work from home.” He added that a meeting would be held at the Secretariat to discuss the implementation of this directive.

In response to the worsening pollution, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena also directed staggered office timings for government employees. As per the revised schedules, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices will function from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, while Delhi government offices will operate from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. These new working hours will remain in effect until February 28, 2025.

The surge in pollution has triggered Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the most stringent set of measures aimed at addressing hazardous air quality. The response includes a ban on non-essential trucks and light commercial vehicles from outside the city, except those running on clean fuels such as CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electricity. Additionally, construction activities for public projects have been halted.

In a bid to further combat the crisis, Gopal Rai wrote to the Centre on Tuesday, requesting approval for artificial rain in Delhi and urging the government to convene a meeting with experts from IIT Kanpur and relevant central agencies to explore additional solutions.