In light of worsening air quality in Gurugram, the District Administration has issued an advisory urging private institutions and corporate offices to adopt work-from-home measures. The move aims to curb air pollution and improve air quality in compliance with guidelines from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Effective from November 20, 2024
Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar announced that all private sector entities should allow employees to work from home starting November 20, 2024, until further notice. This step is part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to mitigate the region’s alarming air quality levels and ensure its effective implementation.
Air quality plummets to ‘severe’ levels
Gurugram’s AQI reached 404 on Tuesday, placing it within the ‘severe’ category, even as pollutant levels throughout Delhi-NCR soared to extremely hazardous levels. Delhi’s air satisfaction breached the ‘severe plus’ mark for the second consecutive day, prompting pressing intervention under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Work-from-home measures for private firms
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has urged private firms to allow personnel to work from home or operate at 50% strength to lessen vehicular emissions and improve air quality.
Schools shift online in NCR
In response to the Supreme Court’s directive, schools in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Faridabad have moved classes online. While Noida and Gurugram have suspended physical classes till November 23, Delhi and Faridabad have not specified an end date for the shift. This follows the Delhi government’s earlier closure of colleges for students up to classes 9 and 11.
Supreme Court’s intervention
The Supreme Court directed NCR states to take into account transferring all classes online amid alarming pollution levels. This marks some other urgent step to shield public health as the government combats the deteriorating air quality in the region.
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