The concentration of pollutants in Delhi's noxious atmosphere has breached 'hazardous' level on National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has recommended that corporate employees should either 'work from home' or use public transport.

Issuing an advisory to corporate sectors, particularly IT sector, CPCB secretary said we have issued an advisory to corporates, including the IT sector, to encourage its employees to work from home for the next few months so as to reduce pollution caused due to traffic congestion in the national capital Prashant Gargava, Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that the task force  has recommended that corporates and Government offices should encourage employees to use public transport or car-pooling. A meeting of the task force, which was convened on Friday, also advised schools to make arrangements for picking up or dropping children together by buses to reduce use of private vehicles, he added further.

 At the review meeting, Gargava said the 10-member CPCB task force on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which lists measures to be followed as per air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, asked state pollution control boards to remain vigilant and closely monitor air quality.  The task force also asked agencies to ensure immediate actions for paving of roads and control of road dust.

The power supply companies have been requested to provide uninterrupted electricity to prevent use of DG sets during winter months, he said.

In the last three review meetings of the task force, a specific action plan has been developed to deal with pollution caused due to unpaved roads, dumping of waste and heavy vehicles, another CPCB official said. He said day and night patrolling and monitoring in high emission or priority areas has also been intensified.

 Pertinently, ten out of the 37 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI in the very poor" category on Thursday.