Delhi Pollution: Govt announces WFH for 50% employees as AQI hits hazardous levels

New Delhi, Nov 20 – As the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital reached a hazardous level of 526 on Wednesday, Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai announced that 50% of the state government’s employees would work from home (WFH) to mitigate the effects of severe air pollution.

Previously, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices operated from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices were open from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Rai confirmed the new directive on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “To reduce pollution, the Delhi government has decided that 50% of employees will work from home. A meeting with officials will be held at 1 pm today to implement this decision.”

The air quality in various parts of Delhi worsened, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 591 and Ashok Vihar Phases 3 and 4 registering an AQI of 634, signaling a serious health risk for residents.

On November 18, the Supreme Court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Delhi government not to relax restrictions under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) without the court’s permission, even if the AQI drops below 300.

Amid the toxic smog, Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University shifted their classes online, with Delhi University’s shift in place until November 23 and Jawaharlal Nehru University till November 22. The severe pollution also affected transportation, with numerous trains and flights delayed or canceled due to poor visibility.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced that all physical classes for students up to Class 12 have been suspended, with studies being moved online to safeguard students from the hazardous air quality.