Delhi asked for basis of odd-even scheme

NGT also questioned exemption of twowheelers and women drivers during scheme

The National Green Tribunal yesterday directed the Delhi government to submit data or studies on the basis of which it has planned to introduce the odd-even car rationing scheme for five days from next week.

The green panel questioned the rationale of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in rolling out the scheme when reports by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had found that the levels of PM10 and PM2.5 were cumulatively higher when the scheme was implemented twice earlier.

On April 21 last year, the CPCB had told NGT that there was no data to suggest that the odd-even scheme has led to a decline in vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR. Under the scheme, vehicles with odd and even numbers are allowed to ply on alternate days.

Directing the city government not to implement the scheme unless it established that it was not counterproductive, the NGT asked it to give an undertaking that it will roll out odd-even only when particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was more than 300.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed the city government to submit the comparative ratio of the emission caused by diesel and petrol vehicles and asked it to clearly enumerate the contribution of small petrol cars in pollution.

It also questioned the justification of exempting twowheelers and women drivers during the odd-even scheme despite knowing that twowheelers caused 46 per cent pollution, as per an IIT Kanpur report.