Delhi restricts vehicles, office attendance in bid to curb pollution

Sign up now: Get insights on Asias fast-moving developments

The air quality index (AQI) in the Delhi region has been in the ‘severe’ category for the past few days, often crossing the 450-mark.

PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW DELHI - Authorities in India’s capital Delhi rolled out strict measures on Dec 17 in an attempt to curb pollution, including a ban on vehicles not compliant with latest emission control norms and regulating attendance in private and government offices.

The air quality index (AQI) in the Delhi region, home to 30 million people, has been in the ‘severe’ category for the past few days, often crossing the 450-mark.

In addition, shallow fog in parts of the city worsened visibility that impacted flights and trains.

This prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management to invoke stage four, the highest level, of the Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi and surrounding areas on Dec 13.

The curbs ban the entry of older diesel trucks into the city, suspend construction, including on public projects, and impose hybrid schooling.

Mr Kapil Mishra, a minister in the local government, announced on Dec 17 that all private and government offices in the city would operate with 50 per cent attendance, with the remaining working from home.

Additionally, all registered construction workers, many of them earning daily wages, will be given compensation of 10,000 rupees (S$143) because of the ban, Mr Mishra said at a press conference in Delhi.

On Dec 16, the government enforced strict anti-pollution measures for vehicles in the city, banning vehicles that are not compliant with the latest emission control standards.

“Our government