New Delhi, 17 December. In view of the dangerous air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Delhi government has taken a big decision. Under this, 50 percent work from home has been made mandatory in all government and private institutions of Delhi from Thursday. Announcing this, Delhi Government Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra said that this decision has been taken to reduce the pollution level and reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. Heavy fines will be imposed on institutions violating the rules.

At the same time, the Labor Department has decided that the Delhi Government will give a compensation of Rs 10,000 directly into the account of the registered laborers affected by the construction work being closed for 16 days during Grape-3. Even after Grape-4 is over, relief will be given on the same basis. Institutions that do not follow the rules will be fined.

from Delhi AQI nasty…

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the very poor category at 329 on Wednesday. However, there has been some improvement in the severe pollution prevailing in the capital for the last three days. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was below the critical range at 7 am at all monitoring stations across Delhi, with some areas recording it in the poor zone.

Due to strong winds and decreasing fog, the pollution level came out of the severe category on Tuesday. The 24-hour AQI stood at 354. According to CPCB, AQI between 0 to 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

It is noteworthy that the dense smog that had engulfed the national capital for the last three days had significantly affected flight and transport services. This caused many road accidents. However, it cleared up to a great extent on Wednesday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate fog throughout the day in Delhi and surrounding areas, with the maximum and minimum temperatures being 24 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius respectively.

Strict restrictions in the capital

By the way, Delhi has not yet experienced cold wave this season and the time for the kind of cold that the city is known for has not yet come. The shadow fog over the city and National Capital Region (NCR) was mainly due to hazardous wind. Due to deteriorating air quality levels, GRAP IV is in effect in the capital, which is the strictest restrictions on pollution. Additionally, on Tuesday the Delhi government announced even stricter restrictions, including not allowing fuel to vehicles that do not have a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate and banning the entry of non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI norms.