New Delhi: In response to deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government on Wednesday, December 17, mandated a 50% work-from-home (WFH) policy for both government and private offices. With construction activities already banned in the city, the government announced a Rs 10,000 compensation for affected construction workers. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category at 329 on Wednesday. Essential services, including healthcare, have been exempted from the WFH order.
The persistent vehicular pollution has significantly worsened the AQI, causing serious health concerns among residents. Citizens have been demanding work-from-home measures to reduce exposure to toxic air. A recent survey by LocalCircles found that 82% of Delhi-NCR residents know at least one family member, friend, neighbor, or colleague suffering from serious health problems due to long-term air pollution, and 28% reported that four or more people in their social circle are affected.
Help for Construction Workers
To control dust pollution, the government banned construction activities in the city, affecting the livelihoods of daily wage workers and laborers. To mitigate this impact, the government announced that Rs 10,000 will be directly transferred via DBT to the bank accounts of all registered and verified construction workers affected by the suspension.
Vehicle Ban in Delhi
In a further step to curb pollution, the Delhi government has decided to bar all non-BS VI vehicles from entering the city, starting Thursday, December 18, 2024. This decision has faced opposition from lakhs of commuters across the NCR. Most residents still drive BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel vehicles, and in cities like Noida and Gurugram alone, over 6 to 10 lakh vehicles could be stopped at the border overnight.
