Delhi Junior Classes To Reopen Wednesday, No 50% WFH As Pollution Eases

Primary classes in Delhi will reopen on Wednesday while the 50% work-for-home order for government employees has been revoked, environment minister Gopal Rai announced today.

"Primary schools will reopen from November 9 and the order asking 50 per cent of the government staff to work from home is being revoked," the minister said.

As the air quality in the city improved, Mr Rai also announced a lift on the ban on construction work related to highways, roads, flyovers, etc. However, curbs will continue on private construction work, he said.

"It has been decided to lift the curbs imposed under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan in compliance with the direction from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)," Mr Rai said.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Monday morning remained in the 'very poor' quality, improving on the 'severe' category that was recorded for three consecutive days. 

Despite the marginal improvement, the AQI stood at 352 at 9 am.

On Sunday, CAQM, the central body that recommends plans to fight pollution in the national capital region, removed some of the restrictions put in place by the Delhi government earlier.

The central body lifted the ban on the entry of trucks into Delhi. The ban on non-BS 6 diesel vehicles has been removed.

Entry of trucks into Delhi is now allowed, however,  BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers will remain banned under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Mr Rai said.