NGT approves Odd-Even rule implementation in Delhi

Directing the Delhi government to implement the odd-even car rationing scheme in accordance to ‘strict conditions’, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday said that there will be “no exemption to any person, officer or individual including two wheelers from the odd even scheme.”

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar said that the orders have to be complied with strict rigour and is applicable to all vehicles. However, vehicles used for emergency services like ambulances and fire brigades have been exempted from the scheme.

Further, the green panel said that the odd even scheme will be complussory whenever the PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels cross the 500 and 300 mark respectively. “It shall be mandatory for NCT Delhi to implement the odd even scheme under such conditions and will not be optional for any officer of the government to not comply” said the bench.

Yesterday, the National Green Tribunal had said: “By this scheme, you are only encouraging people to buy more vehicles and allowing more inter-state traffic. We will not allow odd-even vehicle rationalisation scheme until you prove that it’s not counter-productive.” The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar came down heavily on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party government, saying, “You are getting the tag of the worst capital in the world. The Supreme Court and NGT have suggested (over) hundred measures to curb pollution, but you (AAP government) always opt only for odd-even. Nothing has been done by the Delhi government in the past one year.”