Delhi Puts On Hold Plan To Re-Launch Odd-Even After NGT Questions Move

On November 9, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government said the odd-even road space rationing would be back on Delhi roads between November 13-17, a move aimed at clearing the smog that has engulfed the national capital in its thick-toxic embrace for a week now. Exemptions, however, were going to be offered to women drivers, two-wheelers and vehicles carrying children in school uniforms, apart from VVIPs, a move that irked the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

As soon as the announcement was made, the NGT made its displeasure know, terming the whole plan a “farce”. "(The) odd-Even formula can't be imposed like this. You can't have a shock treatment like this. By this scheme, you are only encouraging people to buy more vehicles, and allowing more inter-state traffic. We will not allow (the) odd-even vehicle rationalisation scheme until you prove that it's not counter-productive," the NGT said. “You are getting the tag of the worst capital in the world. The SC (Supreme Court) and NGT have suggested 100 measures to curb pollution, but you always opt for odd-even. Nothing has been done by the Delhi government in the past one year,” the Bench added. The NGT also rapped the government for resorting to the scheme again when it did not prove as effective as it was expected to be.

On November 11, however, the green tribunal allowed the Delhi government to go ahead with the plan while putting in place some riders ─ no one should be exempted from the scheme, except CNG vehicles and emergency services such as ambulance and fire, the NGT said.

It also said that the scheme should be implemented "without any default" as and when PM (particulate matter) 10 level goes above 500 microgrammes per cubic metre and PM 2.5 level crosses the limit of 300 microgrammes per cubic metre during a span of 48 hours.

The Delhi government, however, decided to call off the move, expressing its “inability to enforce the measure” as the number of buses that would fill in the absence of private vehicles were inadequate. Women's safety could not be compromised, the government said. The government also moved the NGT seeking amendment in its November-11 order on this scheme.

The earlier impact

The road space rationale scheme was implemented in the national capital twice last year ─ from January 1 to 15 in the first phase and from April 15 to 30 in the second.

How did it impact the city? 

According to a report released by The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), the odd-even road space rationing formula, when implemented in the city from January 1 to 15, 2016, succeeded in achieving the prime target of lowering air pollution, albeit in a limited way. “Congestion levels were reduced, but limited reductions were observed in air pollutant concentrations,” said a Teri report.

However, the second part of the odd-even scheme, in effect from April 15 to 20, 2016, could not get the desired result. A look at the Teri numbers for the month of April shows that particles with diameters less than 2.5 micro metres, or PM2.5 concentrations, were 54 per cent higher during the second odd-even period than in the previous, primarily owing to lower wind speed. This means the PM2.5 concentration was 2-5.7 times higher than the prescribed standards. The PM10 levels, meanwhile, showed a violation of 2.6-5.0 times.

Here is an infographic showing how the PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels changed at nine locations in Delhi-NCR from April 3 through April 30, 2016:

In the meantime

Pollution levels skyrocket after brief let-up: After a brief let-up, the pollution levels skyrocketed in Delhi on Sunday (November 12), with the air quality becoming hazardous, which environmental agencies consider unfit for inhalation even by healthy people. Pollution monitoring authorities say some respite could be expected from Monday as surface winds will gain momentum. If it rains on the evening of November 14, as is predicted by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the toxic cover may disperse further. However, experts say rain brings temporary relief, but also leads to accumulation of particulates due to high levels of moisture.

The hourly graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management, which had briefly fallen below emergency levels on Saturday (November 11), recorded PM2.5 and PM10 concentration at 478 and 713 microgrammes per cubic metre by Sunday afternoon. The corresponding 24-hour safe standards are 60 and 100. Visibility came down below 100 metres at many places.

SC notice to Centre, states: The Supreme Court on November 13 sought response from the Centre and Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab state governments on a plea on the rising pollution levels in the Delhi-national capital region (NCR).

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said that there would not be any stay on matters pertaining to pollution which was going on before any other court.

The apex court issued a notice to the Centre and the state governments concerned on the plea which also sought a direction to promote solar energy and electric vehicles to check pollution.

The plea claimed that rise in dust particles on roads, stubble burning in Delhi's neighbouring states led to an alarming rise in pollution levels in the NCR and its adjoining areas.

With inputs from Housing News