As Delhi’s fight against pollution continues, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said it would not allow the Delhi government's decision to roll out odd-even car rationing scheme.
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.
The NGT also asked the Delhi government to explain why two-wheelers and women were exempted from the scheme.
Gaurav Bansal, lawyer in the odd-even implementation matter in NGT, said that keeping in mind the environmental emergency, a special NGT bench will sit on Saturday and Delhi government will have to explain as to why is Odd-Even necessary to be implemented now.
The Delhi government has said that it will justify the effectiveness of the scheme in the hearing scheduled for Saturday. On 21 April 2016, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had told NGT that there was no data to prove if odd-even had any role to play in controlling the vehicular pollution of Delhi-NCR.
While this happens, Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited has also agreed to provide Choppers to Delhi for aerial sprinkling to combat the spike in atmospheric pollution.
Meanwhile, to encourage public transport, the Delhi government has announced free travel for commuters in all DTC and Cluster buses from 13-17 November, the days odd-even was scheduled. Delhi transport minister Kailash Gehlot took to Twitter to make the announcement.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also feels that the decision will help encourage the use of public transport.
The national capital is currently experiencing alarming air pollution with the air quality far beyond permissible levels.
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