NGT rejects Delhi govt’s oddeven plea again

NEW DELHI: In a setback for the Delhi government, the National Green Tribunal on Friday dismissed the state government’s plea for exemptions, should the odd-even road rationing measure needs to be rolled out when air quality breaches the severe level in the national Capital.

“It cannot be disputed that emissions-from-two-wheelers are also a major source of pollution. The exemptions sought would defeat the entire purpose of improving the air quality of Delhi,” said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swant ant er Kumar before rejecting the plea.

When pollution had turned severe for seven days in November this year and the A AP government had proposed to roll out the road rationing measure, the NGT had refused to allow exemption to women, two-wheelers and government servants.

The government then backtracked on its proposal of rolling out the odd-even, citing women’ s safety. It, however, filed a petition before the NGT to review the direction.

Earlier this month, when the NGT asked the government to clear its stand, the government claimed that the car rationing scheme would be rolled out as per directions of the N GT. The following day, however, the government made a U-turn, saying that a petition has been filed to review the NGT’s earlier directions.

“We had filed a plea before the N GT tor evie wt hep erv io us direction. It has been rejected. This means the government, if it wants to roll out the odd-even plan, will have to go ahead without any exemptions ”said TS Khehar the