Considering that the pollution is likely to go up post Diwali, the Delhi government on Monday decided to impose the odd-even rule for cars from November 13 to November 20. A meeting for implementation of the odd-even rule will be held tomorrow, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.
The odd-even rule of Delhi government is a traffic curb under which private vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit will be allowed on roads on odd dates and those with an even digit on even dates.
The decision to impose the odd-even rule for cars came out of the meeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chaired on Monday over deteriorating air quality in the city and its adjoining areas, which is being attributed to stubble burning in neighbouring states and firecrackers.
“A meeting has been called tomorrow to have further discussions on how to implement the odd-even scheme in Delhi. There are over 7,000 buses running in Delhi, out of which 1,000 are electric. The frequency of buses and metros has also increased,” Gopal Rai said.
GRAP Stage IV Measures Implemented
Gopal Rai said that apart from already imposed restrictions, no exemption to any construction and demolition activities will be given, adding that apart from primary schools, now even Class 6 to 10 shall remain closed till November 10.
Delhi and adjoining areas woke up to another day of ‘severe’ category air pollution and a thick blanket of toxic haze on Monday.
The air quality has been severe in Delhi and neighbouring areas such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gururgram, Faridabad etc., for the past few days, with no respite being seen anytime soon amid stubble burning and upcoming Diwali festival, during which people are likely to burst crackers.
Gopal Rai, who has been blaming stubble burning in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for the air pollution in Delhi, said, “It is unfortunate that the pollution of Greater Noida was more than Delhi yesterday. Forget about meetings by the central government, they have not even replied to the letter.”
Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Saturday, in a letter, asked central government to ban entry of polluting vehicles into the NCR, and asked the Centre to convene a meeting with the environment ministers’ of the states concerned.
“Considering the coincidence of Diwali and more parali burning incidents expected in neighbouring states, the ambient air quality of the city is expected to deteriorate… Hence, may I request you to effectively ban entry of vehicles non compliant to BS6 norms into Delhi… I further request you to convene an emergency meeting of neighbouring states’ environment ministers including UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi to address this important issue,” Rai said in his letter.
Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force in Delhi-NCR from Sunday as the air quality index (AQI) stood in the severe category. As part of the GRAP 4, a ban on diesel trucks, construction and work from home for 50 per cent staff in offices has come into effect. Know All About GRAP 4 Rules Here
Delhi government had before this declared a ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles within the city until further notice and also prohibited the entry of private buses from other states with BS4 diesel certifications.
AAP Says Punjab Stubble Burning Not Polluting Delhi
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday blamed Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for “planning to increase pollution of Delhi”, saying that the two states have not banned fire crackers till now.
Responding to allegations of smog tower in city’s Connaught Place being inoperational due to non-payment by the Centre, Rai said, “Smog towers were built, but no one is talking about Anand Vihar smog tower… CP smog tower was closed illegaly… I have written letter to government to take action against responsible officers.”
Rai also said that Punjab stubble burning is not polluting Delhi. “Because wind is slow and that pollution is not reaching… Haryana and UP stubble burning is polluting Delhi because these states are closer than Punjab,” Rai said.
According to the New Delhi-based Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), a total of 4,160 farm fires were reported from north India on Sunday — the highest so far this season. However, Punjab alone reported 3,230 incidents of stubble burning, the state’s highest in a day so far this season, according to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data.
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