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New Delhi: Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Friday postponed the reimplementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme in the national capital as the air quality in Delhi improved after overnight rain. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said there will be no odd-even traffic restriction scheme in Delhi at this time, soon after the Supreme Court left the decision on its implementation to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Earlier this week the court – troubled by the city’s annual (and worsening) air quality crisis – called the plan “optics” and sought proof of success. The odd-even scheme – which restricts (only privately-owned) car traffic based on registration numbers – was to have been enforced for this year from the day after Diwali (November 13).
The Delhi government will now only consider implementing the odd-even scheme after a review of air quality post-Diwali, Mr Rai said. “… an improvement is seen in pollution levels. The AQI, which was 450+, has now reached around 300. (So) the decision to implement odd-even from November 13-20 has been postponed. The situation will be analysed again after Diwali,” the minister said. The minister further said that the government will assess the air quality situation after Diwali and decide on an odd-even scheme if there is a significant increase in pollution.
On Friday, the Supreme Court questioned the Odd-Even rule and ordered to stop farm fires swiftly. The top court made it clear that it wants farm fires to stop. “We suggested a methodology; you do it however you want. But farm fires must be stopped. Some emergency measures are required to stop the farm fires,” it stated.
The apex court also asked the Centre and Punjab government about what steps they are taking as a long-term measure to slowly phase out paddy to restore the water table in Punjab. Moreover, on today’s rain in the national capital, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the people have to pray only as sometimes, the wind comes and helps, and sometimes rain. “God may have heard the prayers of people and intervened; no thanks to the government,” Justice Kaul said.
