New Delhi: The Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government has announced a slew of measures to control air pollution three months in advance, as the national capital braces for the winter season.
This is the season when air pollution becomes a major health concern for people in the city. The measures include doubling parking charges, a complete ban on construction and demolition activities, and work-from-home for government and private-sector employees. It is important to note that the new parking rates will be effective from November 1.
Here are some of the key details:
- There will be staggered office timings from November 1 to February 28, 2027.
- Under this plan, offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will function from 8.30 am to 5 pm
- Offices under the Delhi government will work from 10 am till 6.30 pm.
- Government and private offices will also reduce 50 per cent of their work strength
- 50 per cent staff will work from home from November 1 to February 28, 2027.
- No construction and demolition activities that generate dust will be allowed for a certain number of weeks during this period.
It is important to note that over the years Delhi has taken a number of decisions to fight air pollution in winter. It included the odd-even policy, where vehicles with odd and even numbers alternatively were allowed to run on the roads in order to reduce emissions and pollution.
However, much of the pollution in Delhi comes from dust, industrial and other sources, in addition to vehicular emissions.
Delhi government asks agencies to control pollution at Punjabi Bagh hotspot
The Delhi government has directed various agencies to intensify efforts against pollution sources, including dust, vehicular emissions, construction activities, and waste, particularly in the Punjabi Bagh hotspot, to improve coordination ahead of the winter months, officials said on Friday.
According to a statement, Additional Chief Secretary Prashant Goyal, who is also the nodal secretary of the West District Air Pollution and Monitoring Committee, inspected the hotspot and reviewed the measures various agencies took to control pollution.
Goyal, who was accompanied by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) West Zone Deputy Commissioner Colonel Vinod Atri and officials from several agencies, including the Delhi administration, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi Jal Board and Delhi Traffic Police, visited several pollution hotspots.
The inspection covered the deployment of anti-smog guns, sprinklers and mechanised road sweeping machines, as well as efforts to address sources such as vehicular movement, road dust and smoke, construction and demolition activity and waste accumulation, the statement said.
Goyal directed officials to ensure “continuous action at the ground level” and “timely and prompt resolution of identified pollution sources”. He said agencies should regularly monitor pollution-control measures to assess their implementation, the statement said.