Excessive pollution may invite odd even scheme again in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 26: Due to increasing pollution levels, the Delhi government may bring back the odd-even scheme like the last year. This scheme will restrict the number of vehicles on the roads. To restrain the pollution level the government might have to resort to emergency measures, says transport minister Kailash Gahlot.

 

This scheme can be implemented if the pollution is on the emergency levels for forty eight hours or more than that. The scheme restricts vehicles to ply on the roads based on their vehicle’s registration number. Odd ending numbered vehicles ply on odd dates and even ending number vehicles ply on even dates. However, all vehicles are allowed to ply on Sundays. Odd-even scheme was implemented twice in 2016 so as to control pollution level in NCR.

The minister asked the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and senior officials of his ministry to be "fully geared up" for implementation of the odd- even scheme "as and when" it is announced by writing them yesterday.

 

According to Gahlot, procurement of additional buses by DTC would be the "main component" of readiness in case the odd-even scheme is implemented.

The apex court had appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), a body empowered to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), had said it would not hesitate to enforce the 'odd-even' plan, order cars off roads, and shut schools if needed.