Delhi Government Implements Measures to Combat Air Pollution
Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has announced new measures to combat the city's severe air pollution, including a 50% work-from-home policy and stricter regulations on vehicle emissions. Despite a slight improvement in air quality, the situation remains critical, with the Air Quality Index still categorized as 'very poor.' Opposition parties are calling for discussions in Parliament regarding the pollution crisis, highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions. Sirsa has urged residents to obtain Pollution Under Control certificates to access fuel, as the government intensifies its efforts to address the ongoing air quality challenges. Read on to learn more about the government's initiatives and the current state of air quality in Delhi.
Dec 17, 2025, 15:10 IST
Efforts to Improve Air Quality in Delhi
On Wednesday, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Environment Minister of Delhi, announced that the city government is actively working to enhance air quality. He revealed that a 50% work-from-home policy will be implemented as part of these efforts. Sirsa acknowledged the high levels of pollution in the capital and indicated that no significant improvement is expected in the coming days compared to last year's data. Therefore, the government is making every effort to address the situation. He emphasized that continuous work will be undertaken in the upcoming week to improve air quality, marking the implementation of the 50% work-from-home policy as a crucial step.
Sirsa urged residents of Delhi to obtain their Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates starting tomorrow, stating that fuel will not be available without this certification. Additionally, a ban has been placed on trucks transporting construction materials into the city. He also called on individuals traveling from outside Delhi to use vehicles that comply with Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission standards.
Meanwhile, opposition pressure is mounting on the Delhi government, which has faced demands for a discussion on pollution in Parliament. Congress leader Deepender Hooda pointed out that the winter session of Parliament is concluding without any discussion on pollution. Unfortunately, the Delhi minister had to apologize, while no leaders from the central government stepped forward to take responsibility. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a slight improvement in air quality was observed on Wednesday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 328 around 8 AM, categorizing it as 'very poor.'
Compared to Tuesday, there was a minor improvement in air quality, with the AQI at 354 by 4 PM. However, large areas of the city remained engulfed in toxic smog, and the overall air quality continued to be poor. Anand Vihar was particularly affected, with an AQI of 341, placing it in the 'very poor' category.