Image Credit and Caption: UNI Delhi air pollution: After schools, six power plants ordered to shut temporarily
New Delhi/IBNS: Six of 11 power plants will be stopped from operations and thousands of government employees have been urged to work-from-home or use public transport, in attempts to tackle Delhi's air quality crisis.
On Tuesday, schools and colleges in and around the capital have been ordered to shut until further notice.
Meanwhile, six coal-fired power plants near Delhi have been temporarily closed by the Environment Ministry's Commission of Air Quality Management after a meeting last evening.
Private offices too were advised by the committee to allow at least 50 per cent of their employees to work-from-home until Sunday.
While Delhi says all state government offices will follow 100 per cent work-from-home, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that it does not favour work-from-home since Covid restrictions had a big impact in the past two years.
The government has instead asked all its employees in Delhi and NCR to use public transport as far as possible while going to offices.
Banning trucks carrying non-essential goods and private construction in Delhi, the committee said there was a "compelling" need to ensure the air quality did not deteriorate any further.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on bureaucrats for developing a "don't take any step" attitude in dealing with any situation including air pollution, in Delhi NCR region.
"They do not want to take any decision. They want courts to pass orders and they are happy to implement," a three-judge bench headed by chief justice NV Ramana and also comprising Justices Surya Kant and DY Chandrachud observed on Wednesday.
"It is unfortunate that bureaucracy has come to this pass," the apex court said and asked the Centre and states to implement in letter and spirit the decisions taken at yesterday's emergency meeting.
The Supreme Court fixed the matter for further hearing to Nov 24.
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