
Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday announced Rs 10,000 in compensation for construction workers rendered unemployed due to the pollution-battling GRAP III and GRAP IV measures.
The minister also said all government and private institutions must mandatorily switch to work from home for 50 per cent of the staff from Thursday, or face action.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said GRAP III had been in place for 16 days, and workers affected by the restricted activity during the period will be compensated with Rs 10,000.
"Similarly, workers will be awarded compensation for the days GRAP IV will remain in place. These benefits will be extended to workers registered with the government. The registration process is ongoing," he said.
The measure excludes workers from hospitals, departments involved in the fight against air pollution, the fire department and other essential services.
Mishra also slammed the Aam Aadmi Party for protesting against the government.
"Their chief minister used to run away during the season, but our chief minister is there on the road. They are indulging in dirty politics. It is our mistake that there is pollution because the problem of 30 years cannot be eradicated within five months," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Krish, a Class 12 student at Sanskriti School, and Samarth, a Class 11 student at Vasant Valley School, are the founders of Project Vayu. Krish has been named to the 2026 Diana Award Roll of Honour for the initiative.
All are hoping for rain that may wash away the toxic cloud hanging overhead. But the weather office ended that hope today, saying rain is unlikely in the plains. There might be some over the Himalayan region, but none is expected in Delhi, where the pollution has reached severe levels.
According to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, the average PM2.5 concentration during the week before Diwali stood at 236 micrograms per cubic metre, almost double the 120 ug/m3 recorded in 2025. It was also the highest pre-Diwali average in three years.
The transport sector is expected to be the largest contributor to pollution on Wednesday, while the impact of stubble burning is anticipated to increase on Thursday, potentially worsening air quality further over the next few days, according to Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology models.
Air pollution in Delhi-NCR has worsened during the onset of winter (from October to mid-November) this year. This has been revealed in a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment or CSE, an organisation that monitors environmental issues.
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