The scheme is aimed at curbing pollution since the national capital has turned into a gas chamber with poor Air Quality Index figures.
The Delhi government's much-debated measure to curb pollution in the national capital region, the 'odd-even scheme' is set to end today, i.e. on Friday (November 15) even as air pollution in Delhi-NCR continues to remain 'severe'. The scheme began on November 4 and was set to expire today, and as of now, no order has been passed to extend the scheme further.
It was suspended for two days on Monday and Tuesday for Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations.
Under the scheme, private vehicles whose registration numbers end in odd digits are allowed to ply on road on odd dates and those ending with even digits are allowed on roads on even days. A fine of Rs 4,000 will be imposed on those found breaking or not following the traffic rationing scheme.
The scheme is aimed at curbing pollution since the national capital has turned into a gas chamber with poor Air Quality Index figures.
But is the capital city and its adjoining regions ready to let go of the odd-even scheme, given the still 'severe' level of air pollution that is up and about? Here is what the Centre-run System Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) is saying on Friday — the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Friday morning was recorded at 482. The Lodhi Road area recorded 475, Pusa at 503, Delhi University area at 494, Airport at 508, Noida at 583 and Gurugram at 548. All of these AQI ratings fall under the 'Severe' category (AQI within the range of 401-500 is considered to be 'Severe'). At this range, heavy instances of pollutants are suspended in the air and these may cause respiratory impacts even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart disease. The health impacts may be experienced even during light physical activity.
Friday is the final day of AAP government's anti-pollution measure if it is not extended. "A final decision about extending the odd-even rule could be taken on Friday, depending on the situation of air pollution and outcome of a hearing pertaining to the scheme in the Supreme Court," a Delhi government official had been quoted by reports earlier as saying.
On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that the road-rationing system that is supposed to end on Friday, will be extended, if necessary.
Till Thursday, a total of 4,309 challans were issued against violators of the scheme, according to official data. As many as 475 challans were issued by the teams of traffic police(276.), transport (139) and revenue (60) departments from 8 AM to 8 PM, when the restrictions were in force, on Thursday.
People violating the odd-even rule have been fined Rs 4,000. A total of 233 challans were issued on the first day of the Odd-Even scheme rolled out by the Delhi government, Delhi Traffic Police had said.
Odd-even scheme is a car-rationing system where the vehicles with odd last digit in the registration number are allowed on roads on odd dates and those with even last digit ply on even dates.
The odd-even scheme was first implemented by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in 2016 to tackle the rising pollution level in Delhi.
The Delhi High Court had on Thursday, while hearing a suo-moto petition regarding the rising air pollution levels in the national capital, slammed the state government departments and other concerned authorities over the deteriorating air quality and said that the problem lies with the government's implementation of ideas to curb the pollution. The court added that the government departments and other concerned authorities are not showing any will to implement the ideas which are meant to curb air pollution in Delhi.
On November 14-15, all public schools in Delhi and Noida were closed in view of the pollution levels. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had also earlier ordered industries from using coal and other fuels. The hot mix plants were asked to remain closed till November 15.
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