Govt says ready for odd-even 3

NEW DELHI: After the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) asked the governments of Delhi and neighbouring states to prepare for road rationing if pollution levels touch the emergency threshold, the Delhi government claimed it was prepared for the third round of the odd-even plan.

The government said it is prepared to take the three steps as prescribed i n t he Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as and when the air quality crosses 500, which is considered the ‘emergency’ or ‘severe+’ category.

“If needed, we are also prepared for GRAP. Firstly, entry of trucks into Delhi would be immediately banned when air quality enters the danger zone. Then, all construction activities will be banned and finally, odd-even drive will be rolled out,” said deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

On Tuesday, Delhi experienced the foulest air of the season with the air quality hitting 448, which was worse than even the day after Diwali in October when the AQI had touched 403. The severe pollution levels could persist for the next two to three days.

EXTRA BUSES

Explaining the measures being taken to ensure the drive is carried out smoothly, transport minister Kailash Gahlot told Hindustan Times that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has decided to hire private buses in addition to its existing fleet of 3,591 buses.

“The DTC is prepared to take the load of additional passengers if the car rationing drive is introduced. Private transporters have agreed to give the corporation buses during the days of the scheme,” he said.

Earlier, the DTC was finding it tough to convince the transporters as during the last odd-even passengers had defaced their buses and there is also an uncertainty over the number of days the scheme would go on.

TEMPORARY SOLUTION

The transport minister, however, highlighted that the government considers the odd-even drive only as “an emergency measure” and that it is “not a permanent solution”. “We must identify the primary causes of pollution. Transport just has a small contribution to foul air,” Gahlot said.

He further added that the contribution to PM 2.5 and 10 in Delhi, at present, is majorly from crop burning in neighbouring states.