Delhi announces staggered work hours for government offices to curb air pollution

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...

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