New Delhi:The 50 per cent work from home mandate for private and government offices in Delhi ended on Wednesday as the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted the GRAP-3 restrictions in the national capital and the NCR region, citing an improvement in the air quality after days of choking air pollution.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Environment Minister for Delhi, made the announcement.
Delhi has lifted the hybrid school model and allowed employees to work from home."GRAP-2 is now in place in the capital, and GRAP-3 restrictions have been removed in Delhi. Under this, the 50% Work From Home arrangement in offices has been discontinued, and the hybrid mode currently running in schools has also been shut down," he wrote in a post on X.
Delhi’s twenty four hour average air quality index stood at 327, and forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology indicate that the air will remain in the very poor category.
GRAP-2 and 3 are still in effect.However, the CAQM said that actions under Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the modified GRAP, notified on November 21, will continue and be closely monitored across the National Capital Region to ensure pollution levels do not deteriorate again.
According to the CAQM order, the Sub Committee on the GRAP reviewed the air quality situation and noted the recent improvement, which led to the withdrawal of the November 11 directions that had triggered Stage 3 measures.
Stone crushing, mining, and non-essential construction and demolition activities are all prohibited under Stage 3 restrictions. Certain categories of vehicles are also restricted. BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four wheelers are barred in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
In Delhi, Stage 3 also forbids older diesel goods vehicles. Offices in Delhi NCR are allowed to run with 50% staff, and schools up to Class 5 switch to a hybrid mode.
The CAQM said that construction and demolition sites closed for violations will not be allowed to resume operations unless specifically permitted by the commission. It directed all implementing agencies to maintain strict vigilance and intensify actions under Stage 1 and Stage 2.
During winter, Delhi NCR enforces graded restrictions under the GRAP, which classifies air quality into four stages: Stage 1 Poor AQI 201 to 300, Stage 2 Very Poor AQI 301 to 400, Stage 3 Severe AQI 401 to 450 and Stage 4 Severe Plus AQI above 450.
During the winter, Delhi NCR experiences dangerous air quality levels due to unfavorable weather, vehicle emissions, burning paddy straw, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources.