Amid the growing concerns over pollution in the Delhi NCR region, the Delhi government has directed the private companies to allow 50% of its employees to work from home, under the under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III.
Delhi’s air quality remained ‘very poor’ for the ninth consecutive day on Saturday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 370, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. According to an Economic Times report, 11 monitoring stations marked the air quality under the “severe” category.
The private companies have also been asked to disseminate the advisory across all their branches and implement the policy across the same.
The government has constituted GRAP to tackle the air pollution in the capital region through a tiered AQI monitoring system. As the AQI reaches 201-300, GRAP I restrictions are imposed, while GRAP II restrictions are imposed when the AQI lies in the 301-400 range. GRAP III restrictions come into effect when it is between 401 and 450. GRAP IV restrictions are imposed when the AQI crosses
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that the GRAP III rstrictions are being imposed due to the seriousness of the situation concluded under round the clock monitoring. According to him, the air quality is being tracked closely with special focus on protection of the vulnerable groups. The government has already implemented staggered office timings for its departments and those under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to ease out the peak hour traffic.
Sirsa further added that over 2,000 enforcement personnel have been posted on the ground to ensure compliance with pollution-control policies. As a result, 1200 inspections were carried on across construction sites and other pollution causing units leading to more than 200 show cause notices and 50 50 orders directing immediate closure of violating sites being issued.
