New Delhi: The Central government on Wednesday expressed its unwillingness before the Supreme Court to ask its employees to work from home. It said that it has advised its employees in the national capital to resort to carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles used by them for commuting.
Through an affidavit, the Centre told Apex Court that the number of vehicles used by the Central government is a minuscule fraction of the total vehicles in the national capital and stopping their plying would not make much impact towards improving the air quality of Delhi.
The Central Government has also considered the possibility of functioning under online mode i.e. “work from home”.
In this regard, it is submitted that in the recent past, several governmental functions were impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic for substantially a long period of time which entailed pan India ramifications.
Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court directed the Central government to call for an “emergency meeting” on November 16 with Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and sought an action plan to curb the air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
The apex court asked the Centre about drastic steps which are scientifically proven and are taken to bring down pollution.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Tuesday also issued directions like a ban on construction work, shutting of public schools, work from home, among other measures to control air pollution in the region.
The commission has also directed five states to submit a compliance report before November 22 to the commission and directions will be closely monitored by Chief Secretary of NCR states, GNCTD on a regular basis, said the official release.
