NEW DELHI: As the air quality plummeted in the national capital, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday ordered 50% staff of the Delhi government to work from home and said an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit. From 5th Nov offline sessions for classes, 1- 5 have been suspended. While offline sessions will continue for those in classes 6 to 12, all types of outdoor activities and PET periods have been banned.
Earlier on Nov 3rd, the state govt banned the movement of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles. In its bid to improve the air quality, it has decided to launch the ‘Paryavaran Bus Service’ which will include 500 privately-run CNG buses. Moreover, a six-member team has been under the chairmanship of the special commissioner (transport), along with two members each from the transport department, DPCC, and the Delhi traffic police has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the curbs on anti-polluting activities. Besides, staggered timings of markets and offices are being designed by Revenue commissions.
At a press conference, Rai further mentioned that the government would implement the odd-even car rationing scheme if the need arises. Rai said the government will also write to the chief ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to make arrangements to divert all banned vehicles and trucks towards the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway so that there is no traffic jam at Delhi and at the NCR borders in Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad.
The government has also decided to implement all recommendations suggested by the Central Air Quality Management (CAQM) under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage IV. As many as 33 DPCC special teams and special task forces have been deployed to strictly implement and monitor the anti-pollution measures in industrial areas and pollution hotspots.
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