‘No Odd-Even Review Plea Yet, Delhi’s Smog Concern Only For Show?’
Air in Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh, Mandir Marg, Anand Vihar and Shadipur still under the ‘Hazardous’ category on 13 Nov.
A decision on the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme is likely to take place today, with the Delhi government scheduled to submit a review petition before the National Green Tribunal, requesting a re-look at the exemptions for women and two-wheelers.
The Delhi government on Saturday, 11 November, called off the Odd-Even scheme, hours after it announced that the plan would be implemented from 13 November. The government said that the scheme cannot work without exemptions on women drivers and two-wheelers, as directed by the NGT.
- CJI to hear PIL seeking solutions to Delhi pollution today
Delhi government to submit review petition on Odd-Even scheme before NGT - The NGT had on Saturday given a nod for the scheme but said no to the exemptions for two-wheelers, government servants and women
- The Delhi government said that the city’s transport system is not ready for 30 lakh two-wheelers to go off the road
'Movement of Trucks and Construction Work Under Scrutiny': Delhi Minister
Speaking to ANI on the Odd-Even scheme’s pending implementation, development Minister Gopal Rai said:
NGT Says No Review Petition Filed
Slamming the Delhi government, the National green Tribunal said on 13 November that the Delhi government had not filed any review petition on the Odd-Even scheme. The court told ANI:
Supreme Court to Hear Air Pollution Matter
The Supreme Court agreed to hear today itself a fresh plea seeking to curb rising pollution in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR).
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of lawyer R K Kapoor that rise in dust particles on roads, stubble burning in Delhi's neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab have led to an alarming rise in pollution levels in the NCR and its adjoining areas.
"We cannot ignore the pollution," the bench said adding that it will hear the plea today itself after finishing the matters listed on its board.
The fresh plea seeks direction to the Centre and the states concerned to take measures on curbing road dust and stubble burning.
It also seeks effective implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme.
Trains Delayed
Over 69 Delhi-bound trains were delayed, 22 rescheduled and 8 cancelled due to the increasing smog conditions in the NCR region on 13 November, reported ANI.
Schools in Gurugram Shut Today, Delhi Schools to Reopen
Even as schools in Delhi prepare to reopen after a five-day break, the Gurugram administration announced on 12 November that schools in the region will be shut owing to the poor quality of air.
Meanwhile, according to latest AQI figures, air in Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh, Mandir Marg, Anand Vihar and Shadipur remained in the ‘Hazardous’ category on 13 November.
Delhi Govt to Submit Review Petition
The Delhi government is expected to submit a petition, requesting the National Green Tribual to review the exemptions on women drivers and two-wheelers with regard to the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme.
Meanwhile, after a brief let-up, the pollution levels skyrocketed in Delhi on 12 November, with the air quality becoming hazardous, which environmental agencies consider unfit for inhalation even by healthy people.
The pollution monitoring authorities said there may be some respite from Monday evening as surface winds will gain momentum. The SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) said there was a possibility of rains in the evening of 14 November.
BJP Slams Delhi Government For Putting Odd-Even on Hold
The BJP, over the weekend, alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal government has admitted its administrative failure by putting on hold the decision to implement the Odd-Even scheme in Delhi.
“Kejriwal government completely failed in taking preventive steps against pollution, and it has taken immature steps to deal with the crisis. Administration in Delhi has collapsed and it is sad that Delhi is not ready to meet any emergency situation," a release quoted by Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Manoj Tiwari as saying.
He said the Odd-Even decision was taken in haste, but no necessary alternative arrangements were made.
BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma criticised the Aam Aadmi Party Government in the state and said it never implemented the hundreds of solutions suggested by the NGT.
“The state government still went ahead with the scheme, even though their own Delhi Pollution Board said it was not effective, and in fact, worsened the situation in phase-1 and phase-2. Odd-even is an unnecessary obstacle in the lives of Delhiites. I truly feel that this government is not very serious about controlling pollution,” she added.
Swaraj Party Calls Out AAP on its Knee-Jerk Reactions to Pollution
The Swaraj India party, on 11 November, hit out at Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government's knee-jerk reactions to tackle the pollution menace instead of taking long term institutional measures.
“I am not, in principle, opposed to odd-even scheme as and when it is required but Delhi’s public transport is in shambles. Our national capital not even has 3,000 buses as against a requirement of 10,000. The government has not yet been able to make provisions for last mile connectivity even after making promises in its election manifesto. There has been no policy measure to promote non-motorised transport in the capital,” said Swaraj Party’s Delhi Unit Chief, Anupam.
He said that the situation became worse as Delhi Metro fares have been hiked twice in just six months and that it was possible that the ongoing pollution crisis will end soon but hoped that the AAP government doesn't forget to take up solid long-term comprehensive measures, "otherwise Delhi will be forced to face such a crisis" every year.
Delhi Not Ready for Odd-Even Again: AAP
“If 30 lakh two-wheelers are off the road, Delhi's public transport system cannot accommodate the surge,” claims Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot as he announced that the odd-even scheme has been called off.
Earlier in the day, the NGT had disallowed women and two-wheelers being exempted under the scheme. The Delhi government on Saturday afternoon also cited these conditions as a reason for calling off the scheme.
“In light of the the two conditions by NGT on two-wheelers and women, at the moment we are calling it off. We will go back to NGT on Monday, file a review petition for them to reconsider their decision regarding the two,” Gahlot said.
Odd-Even Called Off For Now
The Delhi government on Saturday, 11 November, called off the Odd-Even plan, a day after it announced that the scheme would be implemented from Monday, 13 November.
Vijay Goel Slams Kejriwal's Odd-Even Policy
Union minister Vijay Goel on Saturday, 11 November, slammed the Odd-Even policy on Twitter.
On Friday, he called the scheme yet another “act of theatrics” by the AAP and that it would only add to people’s woes.
Kejriwal Calls an Emergency Meeting
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal calls an emergency meeting in view of NGT's order on the Odd-Even scheme. The meeting will begin at his residence at 3 pm.
Odd-Even Scheme to be Implemented: NGT
The National Green Tribunal gives the green signal to the Delhi government’s odd-even scheme. The court says there will be no exemptions for two-wheelers, government servants and women this time around.
NGT has also said that odd-even must be implemented in Delhi-NCR every time PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels cross 500 and 300 respectively.
NGT: Absolute Non Co-Operation Between Departments of Delhi Govt
The National Green Tribunal observed it is most worrying that there is absolute non-cooperation between various departments of Delhi government.
NGT also asked the Delhi Traffic Police to deploy its personnel at traffic lights, observing that almost all the main roads in the city witness diesel vehicles which are older than 10 years and petrol vehicles which are older than 15 years.
NGT pulls up the chairman-cum-managing director of DTC for not reading the former judgements in this regard, adding that it was unfortunate. The green court also probed the DTC on the number of unused buses in its workshops.
NGT Asks Why Are Two-Wheelers Exempted From the Rule?
NGT asked the Delhi government the logic of why pollution emanating from two-wheelers was being exempted from this rule?
The court also added whether the government intends to employ this scheme of odd-even whenever the pollution levels spiral, to which the Delhi Govt stated that this couldn't be said as of now.
NGT Asks Why Odd-Even Wasn't Applied Before
While deliberating on implementation of the odd-even scheme, the NGT asks the Delhi government the rationale behind applying the odd-even scheme and why it wasn't applied when the air quality situation was worse.
The green court added that its patience shouldn't be tested. The court also asking the Delhi government that when the statistics indicated that rain leads to a fall in pollution levels, why wasn't action taken?
The bench is headed by Justice Swatantra Kumar and advocate Tarunvir Kehar is the lawyer representing Delhi government.
Cab Aggregators 'Won't Apply Surge Pricing' During Odd-Even
Cab companies in Delhi said they have accepted the Delhi government's request to not effectuate surge pricing for successful implementation of the odd-even scheme, which might be enforced in the city from 13 to 17 November. Ola and Wagon Cab made the announcement on Friday and Uber did on Thursday.
In a meeting, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot spoke to the cab service providers regarding the issue, a government official said.
Ola in a statement said, "We have suspended peak pricing in Delhi. We are slashing prices on Ola Share (facility that helps travellers save cost by sharing it with other Ola users), to be made available starting Rs 35, to encourage adoption of shared rides," Ola said.
Wagon Cab said they welcome the government's decision of implementing the odd and even rule to deal with the current environment situation. Uber said it would not levy dynamic or surge pricing during the odd-even scheme.
(With inputs from IANS)
After putting Delhi government's odd-even scheme on hold, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is going to hear Delhi government’s arguments on its effectiveness today.
The Delhi government on Thursday, 9 November, had announced that the odd-even scheme will be rolled out in order to tackle the hazardous pollution levels in the national capital.
The NGT has said that while they had suggested several measures to control the rising pollution in the city, the government had only opted for odd-even, without properly justifying its effectiveness. It further said that it will not allow odd-even to take place till the government satisfactorily justifies its effectiveness in controlling the pollution of the national capital.
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