CSIR suggests alternative plan to curb pollution in Delhi

A Central government research institute on Wednesday has come out with an idea of having a work and schooling-from-home strategy to reduce vehicular traffic on Delhi roads and asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to try it on a trial basis.

Kejriwal government is set to roll out the 15-day trial of odd-even number car rules from January 1, 2016 in an attempt to reduce the pollution level in Delhi.

The alternative proposal from the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), Delhi — one of the laboratories under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research — is to have 2+1+2 working week in which the third day of a week (Wednesday) will be a day of virtual attendance at work and school. The scientists claim it will be a “policy solution” to mitigate air pollution and will be more productive for the workers and students.

“A break or reduction in traffic, even for a day, will enable the natural circulation to clear the air. This will allow spike of the air pollution to subside during mid week,” said P Goswami, director of NISTADS.