Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced staggered working hours for employees of the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for a three-month period amid increasing air pollution, PTI reported.
The staggered timings will be in place from November 15 to February 15.
During this period, offices of the Delhi government will function from 10 am to 6.30 pm and those of the municipal corporation from 8.30 am to 5 pm. The Delhi government offices currently function from 9.30 am to 6 pm and the MCD between 9 am and 5.30 pm.
The Delhi government said that the current 30-minute timing gap between the two organisations leads to heavy vehicular traffic in the national capital in the morning and evening, which contributes to air pollution, PTI reported.
The work hours were being changed to ensure that the spike in traffic is distributed evenly to curb pollution level.
Air quality deteriorates sharply in the winter months in Delhi, which is often ranked the world’s most polluted capital.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, along with the lighting of firecrackers, vehicular pollution, falling temperatures, decreased wind speeds and emissions from industries and coal-fired plants contribute to the problem.
The air quality in the national capital has been in the “poor” or worse categories since mid-October, leading to the implementation of incremental anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan.
On Saturday, the average Air Quality Index in Delhi at 7.05 am was 335, categorised as “very poor”, according to data from the Sameer application of the Central Pollution Control Board.
An index value between 0 and 50 indicates “good” air quality, between 51 and 100 indicates “satisfactory” air quality and between 101 and 200 indicates “moderate” air quality. As the index value increases further, air quality deteriorates. A value of 201 and 300 means “poor” air quality, while between 301 and 400 indicates “very poor” air.
Between 401 and 450 indicates “severe” air pollution, while anything above the 450 threshold is termed “severe plus”.
Stubble burning to keep air quality ‘very poor’
The contribution of stubble burning in neighbouring states to PM 2.5 in Delhi was 8.6% on Friday. It is predicted to increase to 30.9% on Saturday and 31.2% on Sunday, The Hindu quoted data from the Union earth sciences ministry as saying.
PM2.5 refers to tiny airborne particulate matter that is about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair and can easily be breathed into the lungs and the bloodstream.
The air quality is “very likely” to be in the very poor category between Saturday and Monday, according to the Union government’s Air Quality Early Warning System.
The second stage of Graded Response Action Plan, which is in place, involves a ban on the use of coal and firewood, including tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open eateries. It also includes a ban on the use of diesel generator sets, except for emergency and essential services.
Also read: Delhi’s failure to act against the biggest source of its air pollution – vehicles
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