NGT Stops Delhi Govt From Implementing Odd-Even Without Enough Proof Of Effectiveness

The National Green Tribunal rapped the Delhi government on its decision to implement the Odd-Even scheme from November 13, to curb the increasing pollution levels in the city.

The NGT which reviewed the decision on Friday has directed the govt to produce details of ambient air quality during earlier odd-even schemes.
It also showed apprehensions over its implementation, asking the govt why it was announced this year despite reports from CPCB and DPCC that it was ineffective.
The tribunal has directed the Delhi govt that it will not implement odd-even rule unless it establishes that the scheme is not counter-productive.
Nothing has been done from your end for the past one year, NGT told the Delhi Govt.
“The Supreme Court and the NGT have suggested 100 measures to curb pollution but you always opted for Odd-Even. Delhi Govt will have to justify this. When the situation is improving, the govt is trying to implement odd-even. you should have done this earlier if you wanted to. This will now cause inconvenience to people,” it said.
Hearing to continue tomorrow.

The odd-even car rationing scheme was scheduled to be rolled out in Delhi for five days from November 13 as part of a graded response plan to tackle the alarming level of pollution in the city.
A landmark IIT-Kanpur study, which covered the period 2013-14, said during winters, vehicles are the second largest and the “most consistent” contributing source of pollutants PM10 and PM2.5.
In terms of percentage, it comes to around 20-25 percent during winters, the report says. The contribution of road dust is negligible during the colder months unlike summer when it plays a bigger role, it adds.
However, there’s a catch.
The share of two-wheelers (which are exempt from the Odd-Even scheme) three-wheelers, four-wheelers, trucks and light commercial vehicles in the total vehicular contribution shows that trucks and two-wheelers are the major polluters.
According to the study, which was commissioned by the Sheila Dikshit government, the share of four-wheelers in the break up of vehicular contribution is 10 percent each in cases of both PM2.5 and PM10.
On the other hand, the share of trucks and two-wheelers stand at around 46 percent and 33 percent respectively.