Delhi Offices to Operate with 50% Workforce; Rest to Work from Home

In response to the declining quality of the air in the nation's capital, environment minister Gopal Rai declared on Wednesday that half of the employees at government buildings in Delhi will work from home.

Gopal Rai stated on X, “To reduce pollution, Delhi government has decided to implement work from home in government offices. 50% of the staff in government offices will work from home. Later in the day, the officers will meet to discuss the implementation of the provision.” 

Delhi Government Office Timings

Earlier, the Delhi government announced that the MCD and its offices will have different hours. While Delhi government offices were open from 10 am to 6.30 pm, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) operated from 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Alarmingly High AQI Levels in Delhi and NCR

Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) continue to have "alarmingly high" AQI levels, raising worries about public health and safety.

Even though Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was lower than Monday's record 494 at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, it was still classified as "severe-plus." 

AQI Classification

The AQI for Delhi remains in the "severe-plus" category, with values between 451 and 500, the highest on the scale. AQIs between 401 and 450 are categorized as "severe," while those ranging from 451 to 500 fall under the "severe-plus" classification. The scale caps at 500.

Health Risks Due to Delhi Pollution

Experts have highlighted the significant health risks posed by the high pollution levels, noting that individuals of all ages are vulnerable to both acute and chronic illnesses due to prolonged exposure to such harmful air quality.

Stricter pollution control measures were called for for the Delhi-NCR by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan, or GRAP. These restrictions prohibit any construction and permit schools to cancel classes for the majority of pupils.