Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Transport Minister Pankaj Singh have directed 50 per cent of employees in departments under their charge to work from home as the national capital battles worsening air pollution.
The directions were issued on Friday, November 13, to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and limit pollution caused by daily office commutes.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 403 on Friday morning, entering the ‘severe’ category, before improving to 373 by 4 pm, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. A thick layer of smog continued to cover the city.
Hospital Staff, Essential Services Exempt
Sirsa oversees the environment, food and civil supplies, industries, and forest and wildlife departments. Pankaj Singh holds the transport, health and family welfare, and information technology portfolios.
A government official clarified that the work-from-home directions apply only to employees and officers posted at the Delhi Secretariat. Hospital staff and other essential service personnel are exempt.
“Yes, this order is only for employees and officers working at the Secretariat, not for the Health Department. All personnel working in hospitals fall under essential services,” the official said.
Other essential services, including emergency response and critical public utilities, may also remain exempt where remote working is not feasible.
GRAP III Allows 50% Office Attendance
The ministers’ directions come amid the implementation of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which was enforced across Delhi-NCR on November 6.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has asked governments in the National Capital Region to consider allowing public, municipal and private offices to operate with 50 per cent staff strength, while the remaining employees work remotely.
A CAQM order issued on October 30 provides for a maximum of 50 per cent physical attendance in government and private offices in Delhi and five adjoining NCR districts from November 5 to 20.
These districts include Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Industrial establishments and essential services where the arrangement is not feasible are exempt.
Delhi Winter Action Plan Includes Work From Home
The Delhi government’s winter action plan, which came into effect on November 1, also provides for a 50 per cent work-from-home arrangement.
Under the plan, administrative secretaries and heads of departments must attend office regularly, while ensuring that no more than half of their staff are physically present.
The remaining employees are expected to work from home. However, department heads can call additional staff to the office when required to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential and emergency services.
