Odd-Even: Delhi Govt Changes Timings Of All Govt Offices As Air Turns More Toxic; Check New Reporting Time

The scheme will come into effect from November 4-15 to counter the alarming rise in pollution levels in the national capital.

In order to make it convenient for the office-goers during the Odd-Even scheme, the Delhi government has changed the timings of all government offices. (Getty images)

New Delhi: In order to make it convenient for the office-goers during the Odd-Even scheme, the Delhi government has changed the timings of all government offices. The scheme will come into effect from November 4-15 to counter the alarming rise in pollution levels in the national capital. According to an official order, 21 government departments will function from 9:30 am to 6 pm, while the other 21 departments will function from 10:30 am to 7 pm. Among the departments, which will begin work from 9:30 am are Administrative Reforms, Environment, Power, Planning, Audit, Finance Department, Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs (General Branch) among others. Offices like Home, Services, Urban Development, Principal Accounts Office, Prosecution, Transport, Higher Education, Information and Publicity will operate from 10:30 am onwards. Also Watch | Thick smog continues to cover Delhi sky AAP government's Odd-Even scheme, which was first implemented in 2015, entails cars with odd and even number plates to run on alternate days. The scheme is again going to come into effect from the next week. The scheme will also include vehicles coming from other states, and only be implemented on non-transport 4-wheeled vehicles. Two-wheelers, women-only vehicles, and vehicles carrying schoolchildren will be exempted. While the violators will be fined Rs 4,000. Delhi Ministers will not be exempted from the odd-even scheme, while President, Vice President, PM Governors, CJI, Lok Sabha Speaker, Union ministers, Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Chief Ministers of states and union territories will be exempted from the scheme. For the last few years, a heavy smog is holding crores of men, women, and children captive in Delhi-NCR, raising health concerns. Majorly constituted of dust and smoke from stubble burning this grey cover appears unlikely to retreat in the next few days. Following the declaration of public health emergency with the alarming plunge in the capital's air quality, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the state government fully supports the environmental regulatory bodies and will take all necessary steps to fight pollution. Also Watch | Pollution Menace: Ground report from various parts of Delhi In a tweet, Kejriwal had said, "Delhi government and people are fully supportive of EPCA Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, SC (Supreme Court) and NGT (National Green Tribunal). We have taken many measures in coordination with them and whatever else is necessary in the coming days, we will do that also". "We will implement Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in full. In the coming days, we will also create more awareness about the GRAP measures among the people", he had said in a separate tweet. (with inputs from agencies)