There will be no odd-even traffic restriction scheme in Delhi at this time, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said Friday afternoon, shortly after the Supreme Court left the decision on its implementation to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Earlier this week the court - irked by the annual (and worsening) air quality crisis in the city - called the scheme "optics" and demanded proof of success.
The odd-even scheme - which restricts (only privately-owned) car traffic based on registration numbers - was to have been enforced for this year from the day after Diwali (November 13).
The Delhi government will now only consider implementing the odd-even scheme after a review of air quality post-Diwali, Mr Rai said. "... an improvement is seen in pollution levels. The AQI, which was 450+, has now reached around 300. (So) the decision to implement odd-even from November 13-20 has been postponed. The situation will be analysed again after Diwali," the minister said.
In today's (now annual) Supreme Court hearing on the air quality crisis, the court was referred to a report that said the odd-even scheme reduces vehicular pollution by 13 per cent. The court was also told of a drop in kilometres travelled - an estimated 37.8 lakh per day when the scheme is in effect.
A Delhi government affidavit said this also translated into an average of 15 per cent lower fuel consumption per day (thereby also impacting, positively, the environment) during the scheme.
The court, however, pointed out the report also said vehicular pollution is only an estimated 17 per cent of the larger problem, and that the scheme only led to a 13 per cent reduction of that amount.
"Total vehicular pollution is 17 per cent. Of this... you are saying there is a decline of 13 per cent?" the court asked, before shrugging its shoulder and saying, "We are only flagging it. You take a call... you want to do it, then you can. Can't then say 'pollution because Supreme Court passed an order'."
Of significance is the fact only private four-wheelers are subject to odd-even rules; two-wheelers and taxis are exempt, and, as of 2021, there are over 8.2 million registered in the national capital.
READ | "It's Your Job": Supreme Court's Big Order For States On Delhi Air Crisis
Meanwhile, Delhi woke this morning to overnight rains that improved (slightly and temporarily) the air quality crisis; the AQI dropped from nearly 500 last night to 407 at 7 am. This, as the Supreme Court, was quick to point out, had nothing to do with any effort of the Delhi or central government.
READ | Pollution, Smog Ease In Delhi After Light Rains, More Showers Likely
"God heard peoples' prayers and intervened... sometimes wind helps. But no thanks to government. (All) we want to know is... what is being done about farm fires, apart from waiting for rain?" Justice SK Kaul asked at the start of an intense hearing on the odd-even scheme and Punjab farm fires.
At the end of the hearing the court made clear its position to the concerned governments.
"Every year weather changes in this time... but you haven't been able to solve this in six years?" Justice Kaul said, "Ultimately, little carrot, little stick. Do what you have to do, but get levels down."
Delhi is reeling after a week of pollution that has seen PM2.5 levels as high as 100 times the safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization. It was the world's most polluted city till Thursday.
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
A small city on the Meghalaya-Assam border, nearly 2,000 kilometres away from Delhi, is the most polluted in the world, according to a report published by a global pollution watchdog.
Here we share a list of yoga asanas you can perform when you don't feel like working out.
If you're looking to escape the pollution and experience some of the cleanest air on the planet, here are five countries where you can breathe a little easier.
Tens of millions of Pakistanis spent at least four months breathing toxic air pollution 20 times above safe levels, in the worst winter smog season for several years, according to data analysed by AFP.
Thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday.
................................ Advertisement ................................
Opinion | Why Indians Have Just Given Up On Air Pollution CrisisTanushree Ganguly
Friday December 20, 2024While some may argue that people in Delhi are now more aware of air pollution than they were a decade back, my rebuttal would be that awareness does not mean that people are concerned.
Opinion | You Must Outrage Over Filthy Air More Than Once A YearJyoti Pande Lavakare
Tuesday December 10, 2024Delhi welcomed us with monsoon rains and mangos. We were home. Fast forward a couple of years, in the winter of 2012, I found myself in denial about something other parents, mostly expats, were calling toxic air.
Opinion | Delhi's Air Pollution Situation Is Like A Bad MarriageNishtha Gautam
Friday November 22, 2024On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.
दिवाली... पराली... सियासी जुगाली!Ashwini kumar
Monday November 18, 2024दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का समाधान तो आज तक मिला नहीं. हर साल चिंतित होकर हम-आप सांसों की तकलीफ के साथ-साथ दिल और ब्लड प्रेशर के मरीज भी क्यों बनें?
घर में कैद बुजुर्ग और हांफते लोग, दिल्ली की सांसों में घुला ये कैसा रोग?Nidhi Kulpati
Friday November 08, 2024हमारी हवा जहरीली हो रही है. गुरुवार की शाम को जब मैं इस मुद्दे पर लिखने बैठी तो AQI लगातार 400 पार जाकर दम घोंट रहा था. बहुत लोगों को यह मामला बोरिंग लगे, लेकिन जब आप अपने साथ काम करने वालों को खांसते-हांफते देखते-सुनते हैं, तो चिंता होने लगती है. सुबह उठते ही दरवाजे खिड़कियां खोलने के लिए डॉक्टर मना कर रहे हैं. बड़े बुजुर्गों के लिए तो मॉर्निंग वॉक बाहर की दुनिया से सीधे संपर्क का ज़रिया है, लेकिन डॉक्टर इसकी भी मनाही कर रहे हैं.