New Delhi : The Central Pollution Control Board on Saturday tightened pollution-control measures in Delhi, directing that several restrictions currently reserved for the ‘Severe’ category under GRAP Stage IV be implemented earlier under GRAP Stage III as air quality remains in the ‘Very Poor’ range. The panel has also said that the Central Government may take an appropriate decision on permitting work-from-home arrangements for employees of central government offices.
It brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities to coordinate action during adverse air-quality situations. As part of the revised schedule, several measures under Stage II have been shifted to Stage I (‘Poor’ AQI: 201–300). These include ensuring uninterrupted power supply to discourage the use of diesel generators, synchronising traffic movement with additional personnel at congestion points, issuing public pollution alerts through newspapers, TV and radio, and augmenting public transport by increasing CNG/electric bus fleets and metro frequency with differential fares to promote off-peak travel.
Measures earlier placed under Stage III have now been moved to Stage II (‘Very Poor’ AQI: 301–400). These include staggering office timings for public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. NCR state governments may implement similar steps in other districts, and the Central Government may also stagger timings for its offices across Delhi–NCR.
With air quality still in the ‘Very Poor’ range, CAQM has also directed that certain measures previously reserved for Stage IV (‘Severe’) be implemented under Stage III. These include NCR State Governments and the Delhi Government (GNCTD) deciding whether public, municipal and private offices should operate with 50% staff strength and allow the rest to work from home.
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