The Delhi government of India has announced a series of measures three months ahead of the winter season to tackle air pollution in the national capital, where air quality has historically deteriorated during the period.
Under the winter action plan, parking charges will be doubled from 1 November. A complete ban has also been imposed on construction and demolition activities that generate dust for a specified number of weeks during the winter period, reports NDTV.
To reduce congestion and emissions, government and private offices will cut their in-person workforce by 50 per cent. The remaining 50 per cent of staff will work from home from 1 November to 28 February 2027.
The government will also introduce staggered office timings from 1 November to 28 February 2027. Offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will operate from 8:30am to 5pm, while Delhi government offices will operate from 10am to 6:30pm.
Delhi has taken several measures over the years to tackle winter air pollution, including the odd-even policy. Under the system, vehicles with odd- and even-numbered registration plates were allowed to operate on alternate days to reduce emissions and pollution.
Vehicular emissions are only one of several sources of pollution in Delhi. Dust, industrial activity and other sources also contribute to the city’s poor air quality.
Farm fires, including crop residue burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, have also been identified as key contributors to Delhi’s air pollution during the winter months.
