Delhi Government Announces Delay in Implementation of Odd-Even Rule

The odd-even traffic restriction scheme in Delhi has been postponed for now, according to Environment Minister Gopal Rai. The decision was made after the Supreme Court left it up to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party to decide on its implementation. The court had expressed its frustration with the annual air quality crisis in the city and demanded proof of the scheme’s success. The odd-even scheme, which limits privately-owned car traffic based on registration numbers, was supposed to be enforced from November 13. However, the Delhi government will now review the air quality after Diwali before considering its implementation.
During a Supreme Court hearing, a report was presented that claimed the odd-even scheme reduces vehicular pollution by 13%. The court was also informed of a decrease in the number of kilometers traveled, estimated at 37.8 lakh per day, when the scheme is in effect. Additionally, the scheme led to an average of 15% lower fuel consumption per day, positively impacting the environment. However, the court pointed out that vehicular pollution is only a portion of the larger problem, accounting for 17%, and the scheme only reduces that amount by 13%.
Meanwhile, Delhi experienced overnight rains that temporarily improved the air quality crisis. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped from nearly 500 to 407 at 7 am. However, the Supreme Court emphasized that this improvement had nothing to do with the efforts of the Delhi or central government. The court also raised concerns about farm fires and questioned what is being done to address them.
Delhi has been suffering from severe pollution for a week, with PM2.5 levels reaching 100 times the safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization. The city was previously ranked as the world’s most polluted.