Delhi Minister Orders Closure of Illegal Industries, Warns Private Companies Against Violating WFH Rules

Ordering the closure of all illegal industries, Delhi’s Environment and Industries Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, issued a stern warning to private companies not adhering to the government’s directive to implement work-from-home (WFH) under GRAP-4 regulations. Addressing the media, Sirsa emphasized the importance of compliance with GRAP-4 rules by all companies. He highlighted that strict actions would be taken against any private company found violating these guidelines. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a pollution response framework triggered by AQI levels, with GRAP-4 mandating WFH for both private and government office staff when the AQI exceeds 400. Sirsa also outlined plans for cracking down on illegal industries in the city, with Deputy Commissioners of MCD and DPCC initiating sealing actions against non-compliant industries. He stressed that all illegal industries, whether polluting or non-polluting, would be shut down as per Supreme Court orders. Additionally, Sirsa mentioned the ongoing drive against polluting factories in Delhi, emphasizing the enforcement of rules to ensure clean air. He highlighted the importance of applying for Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Stations (OCEMS) by December 31, warning of consequences for non-compliance. Sirsa noted the positive impact of GRAP-4 regulations in curbing pollution levels in Delhi, citing the testing of over 2,12,000 vehicles for Pollution Under Check Certificates (PUCC). Approximately 10,000 vehicles failed the test due to higher pollution levels than the prescribed standards.