AAP Government Calls Off Odd-Even Roll Out After Green Court’s Conditional Go-Ahead

New Delhi: The Delhi government has called off the roll out of Odd-Even scheme, reports ANI. The decision was taken in an emergency meeting by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order giving a go-ahead to the scheme but with conditions like no exemptions for two-wheelers, women and government vehicles. The government plans to go back to the Green Tribunal on Monday to seek review of its decision to not exempt two-wheelers and women drivers, said Kailash Gehlot, Delhi Transport Minister. The Odd-Even 3.0 which limits cars with license plates ending in even numbers to run on one day and odd numbers on the next day was to roll out from Monday, November 13 to 17 from 8 am to 8 pm.

The NGT order also asked for Odd-Even to be implemented as soon as PM 10 level goes above 500 and PM 2.5 level goes above 300, which will be monitored for 48 hours.

NGT’s decision had come after seeing the reports submitted by the Centre Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) that reveal that two wheelers are more polluting than four wheelers, and their emissions comprise 20 per cent of the total vehicular pollution.

NGT has also asked Traffic Police to deploy its personnel at traffic lights and ensure Odd-Even scheme is strictly followed.

Also Read: Battling Delhi’s Killer Smog: Is Odd-Even The Answer To Deal With Air Pollution?

The green panel also asked the Delhi government to reconsider their decision of hike in parking fees 4 times and added,

Won’t the hike of parking fees only benefit the parking lots, and would stress people even further, thereby encouraging them to park vehicles on the roads instead, choking them in the process?

Apart from the Odd-Even decision, NGT has directed all the neighboring state Governments and departments, including Delhi police, to cooperate and coordinate better.

Alongwith Odd-Even, which has been implemented twice before in 2016, the government had banned construction activities and the entry of heavy vehicles like trucks in the city. The Green Court on Friday also suggested a series of strict actions to Delhi government in order to combat Air Pollution. Firstly the green court suggested the government should impose Rs. 1 lakh fine on builders found violating directions, as construction work has been halted in view of smog and air pollution in the national capital.

Secondly, the court also directed other states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to ensure no crop burning incident gets flagged from their area. If any incident is reported then a considerable amount of fine will be charged from the salary of responsible officer.

Since Tuesday, Delhi has been choking under the blanket of thick smog as air quality in the world’s most polluted capital city reached hazardous levels. According to the US embassy website levels of the fine pollutants known as PM 2.5 that are most harmful to health in the city reached 703, more than double the threshold of 300 which authorities class as hazardous.

Also Read: As Delhi Pollution Outstrips Beijing, Government Brings Back Odd-Even, Here’s What Experts Have To Say