The Arvind Kejriwal government has decided to postpone the plans of reintroducing the odd-even scheme in Delhi from November 13. The Delhi government says that the decision has been taken due to significant improvement in the air quality of the National Capital.
The implementation of the odd-even scheme in Delhi, restricting privately-owned car traffic based on registration numbers, was initially planned to start after Diwali (November 13).
The Delhi government has now decided to assess the air quality post-Diwali before considering the implementation of the odd-even scheme, as indicated by Mr. Rai. The minister noted an improvement in pollution levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping from over 450 to around 300. Consequently, the decision to enforce odd-even from November 13-20 has been postponed, with a reassessment planned after Diwali.
In today’s annual Supreme Court hearing on the air quality crisis, a report was referenced, stating that the odd-even scheme reduces vehicular pollution by 13%. The court was informed of a decline in daily kilometers traveled, estimated at 37.8 lakh when the scheme is in effect.
The court highlighted that vehicular pollution accounts for approximately 17% of the larger problem, and the odd-even scheme only results in a 13% reduction of that amount. The court suggested that the decision to implement the scheme should be based on the government’s judgment rather than a court order.
It’s noteworthy that the odd-even rules apply solely to private four-wheelers, with exemptions for two-wheelers and taxis. Delhi experienced temporary relief from overnight rains, leading to a slight improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI) from nearly 500 to 407 at 7 am. The court emphasized that this improvement was not due to government efforts.
In an intense hearing on the odd-even scheme and Punjab farm fires, the court raised concerns about the government’s actions regarding farm fires and urged effective measures to reduce pollution levels. Despite being the world’s most polluted city until Thursday, Delhi continues to grapple with PM2.5 levels far exceeding recommended safe limits set by the World Health Organization.
