TAKING a serious note of the severe air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a slew of directions and asked the NHAI and the MCD to consider either temporary closing or relocating the nine toll plazas at borders of the national capital to ease usual massive traffic congestion. The top court described the pollution crisis as an “annual feature” and called for pragmatic and practical solutions to tackle the menace.

 

It, however, refused to interfere with the Delhi Government’s decision to close schools for students from nursery to Class 5, holding that no further tinkering was required as the winter break was already approaching. In an effort to ease vehicular congestion at Delhi’s borders, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider shifting or temporarily closing nine toll plazas located at entry points to the capital. Traffic police, enforcement teams to monitor ban on non-BS VI vehicles’ entry into Delhi: THE Delhi Traffic Police and transport department’s enforcement teams will be deployed at petrol pumps and borders as a ban on entry of non-BS VI vehicles registered outside Delhi kicks in from Thursday. According to officials, the Transport Department has 78 to 80 enforcement teams that will be deployed at border points in Kundi, Rajokri, Tikri, Aya Nagar, Kalindi Kunj, Auchandi, Mandoli, Kapashera and Bajghera toll/Dwarka Expressway, among others. Vehicles without a valid pollution under control certificate will not be provided fuel at petrol pumps in the national capital from Thursday. Delhi Govt directs maximum 50 pc staff to physically attend private offices: THE Delhi Government has directed private offices in the national capital to operate with a maximum of 50 per cent staff physically present at workplaces, with the remaining employees required to work from home, in view of GRAP Stage IV restrictions due to severe air pollution.

 

However, exemptions have been granted in certain areas including public and private health establishments, transport, sanitation and emergency services. According to an advisory issued by the Labour Department, the direction follows amendments made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after hearings and consultations held in November.

 

 

 

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.