The Delhi Government, which, on November 6, had announced the implementation of the Odd-Even traffic rationing scheme between November 13 and 20, to curb the worsening air quality in the national capital, has put it on hold.
The government, on November 10 said that the scattered showers in the national capital throughout the day had significantly improved the air quality index (AQI), which was hovering in the Severe+ range of over 450 since the last few days.
While the government’s earlier action was taken to arrest the capital’s deteriorating air quality, which has been significantly marred by the stubble burning in adjacent Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, however, the rollback also comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s questioning about the efficacy of the Odd-Even scheme with tangible data.
It is understood that with the apex Court’s terming the scheme as ‘optics’, the government has reconsidered its decision to implement the scheme, which would otherwise limit traffic on the roads by allowing private cars ending with an odd digit in the number plate to ply on odd dates, and those ending with even digits to ply on even dates.
While the government has stayed its decision to implement a week-long Odd-Even scheme in the national capital, it has informed that it will continue monitoring the situation of Delhi’s air quality, particularly after Diwali on November 12. In the meantime, the Centre for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM’s) GRAP – Graded Action Plan – measures in their fourth stage continue to remain enforced in the capital and restrict the plying of BS 3 petrol, and BS 4 diesel cars, as well as ban entry of non-essential-service M&HCVs into Delhi, until further orders.