Efforts are being made to reduce the effect of pollution due to the difference in opening and closing hours of offices in Delhi.
The air in the country’s capital Delhi has become extremely dangerous due to pollution. On this, the Supreme Court ordered closure of schools and strict implementation of Group 4 restrictions. It was decided to conduct online classes till the 12th in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Now Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have decided to conduct online classes as a precautionary measure.
There has been a change in the timings of government offices in Delhi and the discussion on implementing work from home has also started in full swing. Let us know if work from home will reduce pollution in Delhi.
Work from home option open to 50 percent of people
In view of the dangerous level of pollution in Delhi, the Air Quality Management Commission implemented the fourth phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR from the morning of November 18, 2024. Furthermore, Government office hours have been modified. The MCD offices will now be open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. At the same time, Delhi government offices will open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
read this too
Efforts are being made to reduce the impact of pollution due to the difference in office opening and closing hours, so the option of working from home is also open. Under this, there is an option to work at 50 per cent capacity in government, private and local body offices and allow remaining employees to work from home.
Dr Bhagwan Mantri, pulmonologist at Moolchand Hospital, says those with respiratory problems should stay home. Wear a mask if you go out. If possible, install an air purifier in the house. The AQI is increasing, so it is best to stay home as much as possible.Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, general secretary, Homeopathic Medical Association of India, says: Wear a mask when you go out. Avoid approaching areas with excess dust.
An anti-smog gun is spraying fog to reduce smog in New Delhi. Photo: PTI
People will avoid direct contact with pollution
Experts say working from home and closing schools and universities will not immediately control pollution, but will definitely help reduce it. Not only this, doctors have termed the current level of pollution as extremely dangerous to health and have advised people not to step out of their homes. Children and the elderly are especially asked to avoid this. At the same time, doctors recommend using an N-95 mask when leaving the house. In such a situation, the big benefit of working from home and conducting online classes will be that people will be able to avoid direct exposure to pollution to some extent.
The number of vehicles on the roads will decrease
Apart from this, when people work from home, the number of cars and bikes on the roads will definitely reduce. This will stop smoke emanating from vehicles and reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted by vehicles, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and soluble organic compounds that dissolve in the air. With this, the air in urban areas can be kept clean to some extent and will also have an impact on smog.
People come out with masks when the AQI reaches 500. Photo by: PTI
Traffic pressure will be reduced.
Due to work from home and online classes, when people will not leave their homes, there will be no traffic jams due to reduced pressure of vehicles on the roads. With this, all vehicles on the road will be able to reach their destination easily and will not burn fuel or emit dangerous fumes while stuck in traffic.
Not only this, when offices, schools and colleges are open, the lights and air conditioning heaters are on, thus excessively consuming electricity. Closing them or reducing the number of employees will use energy, reducing pressure on power generation centres, which will also reduce sources of pollution and heat. Due to work from home, people will have to leave home only for essential things. To do this, people can do their work by bicycle or on foot. This will also reduce smoke emission and air quality can be improved.
There may be a decrease in air travel
It has been said in the media that thanks to working from home, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can be reduced. These gases are emitted due to human activities, especially the burning of fuel in vehicles. If people work from home and have meetings, etc. online, air travel is also reduced. Air travel is responsible for 2.5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. This can be reduced if people reduce air travel.
According to research published in the National Academy of Sciences, if people work in hybrid mode and from home two to four days a week, carbon emissions can be reduced by between 11 and 29 percent.
Also read: Indira’s decision that defamed Nehru angered Firoz Gandhi
