Stricter anti-pollution measures announced by the Delhi government came into effect from Thursday after the city's air quality index plunged into the 'severe' category earlier this week. The fresh curbs are aimed at reducing emissions as pollution levels remain alarmingly high across the national capital.
The measures come in addition to the Stage 4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan enforced by the Commission for Air Quality Management GRAP-4, after Delhi recorded ‘severe’ AQI for three consecutive days since Saturday, December 13. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court also criticised the CAQM for its steps taken so far, calling for a more comprehensive approach to tackle the pollution crisis.
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Offices to shift to hybrid work model
Delhi labour minister Kapil Mishra said that all government and private offices in the National Capital Territory of Delhi should enforce hybrid work from home with immediate effect from Thursday or face action.
According to the order, private offices will have to ensure that no more than 50 per cent of their staff are physically present at the workplace, while the rest work from home mandatorily.
However, a number of exemptions are available. Emergency services and frontline workers, such as those in hospitals, departments engaged in fighting air pollution, the fire department and other essential services, are exempt. Public and private health services, transport services and sanitation services also do not fall within the ambit of the hybrid work requirement.
Vehicle entry restrictions under GRAP-4
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced restrictions on vehicle entry when higher GRAP stages are in force. As per the final order issued on Wednesday, vehicles below the BS-VI category and registered outside Delhi will not be allowed entry into the city when Stage 4 of GRAP is in force.
Teams from Delhi Traffic Police and the transport department will be deployed at city borders and petrol pumps from Thursday to enforce this ban.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted protection against coercive action for BS-3 and below vehicles in the national capital.
The environment minister also said vehicles carrying construction material will not be allowed entry to Delhi.
"Trucks carrying construction materials into Delhi have also been banned... I appeal to people coming from outside Delhi to bring vehicles that comply with Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission standards," Sirsa told ANI.
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The Government has made PUC certificate mandatory for fuel.
Reportedly, from Thursday, no vehicle without a valid PUC certificate will be given fuel at any of the petrol pumps, Sirsa declared. A PUC certificate is issued after a basic emission check conducted at authorised centres. The fee charged for two- and three-wheelers is ₹60, ₹80 for four-wheelers, whereas it is ₹100 for diesel vehicles. In addition, Bharat Stage IV and Bharat Stage VI compliant vehicles are given a validity of 12 months.
