Delhi’s air is still a mess, and the government is finally pulling the plug on “optional” compliance. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa (who took office in February 2025 under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta) made it very clear this Monday: private offices that aren’t hitting the 50% Work-From-Home (WFH) mandate are going to face the music.1
The thing is, GRAP-4 isn’t a suggestion. It’s an emergency protocol that kicks in when the AQI crosses 400.2 Sirsa didn’t mince words—he’s heard the rumors that companies are ignoring the rules. Or nothing. Let’s be real, the traffic on the DND and Outer Ring Road hasn’t exactly looked like half the city is staying home. Those too.
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The Crackdown: No More Notices
The time for “polite reminders” is over.
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Sealing Drive: Starting today, the MCD and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) are hunting down illegal and polluting industries.3 If a factory is identified, it gets sealed on the spot.4 No warnings.
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The OCEMS Deadline: Industries have until December 31, 2025, to install Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems.5 If they don’t, they’re out of business.
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The “No PUC, No Fuel” Rule: This has been a huge push lately. In just the last few days, over 2.12 lakh vehicles were tested. And here’s the kicker: 10,000 of them failed. If you don’t have a valid certificate, you aren’t getting petrol or diesel in Delhi.
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Pollution Snapshot: Dec 23, 2025
| Metric | Status / Action |
| GRAP Level | Stage 4 (Emergency) |
| WFH Mandate | 50% for Private & Government Offices |
| Primary Target | Illegal/Polluting Industries & PUC violators |
| Enforcement | Immediate Sealing & Property Attachment |
| Recent Impact | 10,000+ vehicles failed emission tests this week |
The weather isn’t helping much, either. A Western Disturbance hit on Sunday, making things gloomy, though the IMD is promising a slight improvement in wind speed by tomorrow.6 But Sirsa’s message was blunt: “Public health is non-negotiable.”
It’s an ongoing battle for every breath. While the government is ramping up inspections, many small business owners are complaining they can’t monitor staff from home.7 Let’s be real, though—when the air smells like burnt rubber, “monitoring staff” feels like a secondary problem.
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