The odd-even restriction on private vehicles makes a return this winter in the national capital, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announcing the implementation of the vehicle rationing scheme from November 4 to 15 as part of a seven-point action plan to control air pollution in the city.
Kejriwal said the seven-point plan is aimed at curbing air pollution in Delhi which sees a spike as a result of stubble burning in neighbouring states. “November onwards, stubble burning in the neighbouring states turns Delhi into a gas chamber. The Punjab and Delhi governments have worked together to tackle the problem, but we need to take additional measures to ensure stubble burning does not affect air quality in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
The odd-even rule will be one of the 7 items on the anti-pollution agenda of the Delhi government. The scheme makes a return in Delhi after a gap of three years. It was last implemented in the capital city in 2016.
The implementation of the odd-even restriction means that odd-numbered vehicles will be allowed to ply on Delhi roads on November 4, the even-numbered ones on November 5 and so on.
Kejriwal said it was only an emergency measure as its implementation is difficult as a long-term measure. He also said that the scheme, which will be applicable on private-owned cars and motorcycles, will not be implemented on Saturdays and Sundays.
Another major announcement made as part of the seven-point agenda is that the Delhi government will make efforts to implement the Supreme Court's order ban on firecrackers in the national capital during Diwali. “I request people of Delhi not to burst crackers. The whole city will celebrate Diwali together this year,” he said, adding that on Diwali-eve, the Delhi government will organise a big laser show. Free entry. “All this is being done as per the Supreme Court's order. It is our duty to enforce the order of the Supreme Court,” he said.
The government will appoint two environment marshals in every ward to stop people from burning leaves during the winter months. Also as part of the action plan, special measures will be taken to control pollution in 12 areas in the capital which have been identified as 'pollution hotspots.'
To curb dust pollution, water sprinkling will be done at a large scale and mechanised sweeping will be carried out, the chief minister said.
Kejriwal said protective masks are being procured at a large scale so that denizens can buy them to protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution.
The other activities in the action plan include distributing saplings to the citizens to encourage plantation, bringing in a bus aggregator policy, encouraging the private sector to invest in luxury buses to wean people off their private vehicles, investing in electric buses and notifying an Electric Vehicle Policy.
Except for the odd-even scheme and the efforts to stop people from bursting firecrackers, the other items on the seven-point plan will be implemented throughout the winter.
On the issue of hefty challans being imposed on traffic violators under the new Motor Vehicle norms, Kejriwal said that it had led to Delhi traffic becoming more disciplined.
“We all want accidents to be prevented. And we all know that the traffic in Delhi is very indisciplined. Traffic has improved since the new rules kicked in... We are viewing it closely. If there is any clause that causes difficulties to the people, and if it is within our domain to reduce it, we will do it,” Kejriwal said.
