Delhi Introduces Permanent Winter Anti-Pollution Measures to Tackle Toxic Air
The Delhi government has announced a set of permanent anti-pollution measures that will be enforced every winter to combat the city’s severe air quality crisis. Instead of activating restrictions only when pollution reaches critical levels, the new rules will automatically remain in force from November 1 to February 28 each year. The move comes ahead of the annual season when Delhi frequently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities.
The new measures include doubling parking charges to discourage the use of private vehicles, introducing staggered working hours for government offices, and banning all non-essential outdoor construction activities during the winter months. Additionally, from November 1 to January 31, both government and private offices will be required to operate with only half of their employees working on-site, while the remaining staff work from home. Authorities warned that violations of these rules could lead to penalties and prosecution.
Delhi’s air quality typically deteriorates sharply between November and mid-February, with average Air Quality Index (AQI) levels remaining in the ‘very poor’ category. Alongside the new restrictions, the government has also introduced financial incentives of more than $1,000 for owners who scrap older vehicles and switch to electric vehicles, aiming to reduce emissions and improve air quality over the long term.
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