Capital chokes, all offices to function at 50 pc strength

As the national capital continues to fight rising air pollution, the Delhi Government on Saturday directed all government and private offices in the city to function with only 50 per cent staff strength and the rest will work from home.

The order has been issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and comes into force with immediate effect. It will remain in force till Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is in place.

The directive, issued by the Department of Environment & Forests, follows amendments made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

As per the revised framework, the provision allowing offices to operate at 50 per cent strength, earlier applicable under GRAP Stage IV, has now been brought under Stage III in view of the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

As per the order, all offices will function with not more than half of their staff physically present.

Administrative secretaries and Heads of Departments will attend office regularly. They may call additional officers as required to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential and emergency public services, the order read.

Private offices within Delhi have also been directed to restrict physical attendance of employees to 50 per cent, with the remaining workforce required to mandatorily work from home.

They have been asked to implement staggered working hours where feasible, strictly enforce work-from-home norms and minimise vehicular movement linked to office travel.

Essential and emergency services, including hospitals, health establishments, fire services, prisons, public transport, electricity, water, sanitation, disaster management and departments involved in air pollution control and enforcement, have been exempted from the order.

District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police and local bodies have been instructed to ensure strict compliance.

Any violation of the directions will invite penal action under Sections 15 and 16 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and other applicable laws, it added.