Delhi ‘odd-even’ plan starts today

New Delhi: Amid a raging tussle between the AAP government and the Centre, the “odd-even” formula for cars to curb air pollution in Delhi will be implemented from Friday, but the biggest pollutants, which are two-wheelers, have been exempted from the scheme. This, experts say, will make it far less effective than it could have been.

While it is hoped the fortnight-long scheme will reduce air pollution in the national capital, the Centre for Science and Environment estimates show that due to their sheer numbers, two-wheelers, that form 64 per cent of the city’s total vehicular population, contribute as much as 31 per cent of total particulate load in Delhi’s air. CSE executive director Anumita Roy Chowdhury said: “The exemptions, notably to two-wheelers, reduce the overall effectiveness of the scheme. Due to sheer numbers, their contribution to pollution levels in Delhi is high and therefore they should be included in the scheme’s ambit.”

The Delhi government has decided to restrict the plying of only private cars with odd and even registration numbers on alternate days from January 1 to 15 as part of the first phase of the scheme. Violators will be fined Rs 2,000 and will not be granted access to any of the public parking lots in the city.

Motorists can use both odd and even numbered cars on Sundays. Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain and transport minister Gopal Rai will reportedly travel in the odd-numbered car of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on January 1 to reach the Delhi Secretariat.

Culture minister Kapil Mishra will travel on his motorcycle, environment minister Imran Hussain will take an auto to reach the Players Building. Social welfare minister Sandeep Kumar will reportedly be taking a bus from ISBT.

Police commissioner B.S. Bassi said his proposal to allow women not having driving licences or knowing how to drive be allowed to travel with male drivers was rejected by the AAP government.

The police chief, however, said he appreciated the AAP government’s initiative, saying any step that helped the environment could not be a bad thing, and asserted he will ensure full implementation of the vehicular restrictions.

Mr Bassi said: “We thought in the interest of women’s safety that another exception could be made in favour of women travelling alone with a driver. This suggestion has not been accepted by the government. So now if any woman travels with a (male) driver, in violation of the scheme, such a driver shall be liable for prosecution.”

Mr Bassi said all motorists should comply with the odd-even scheme’s provisions and should not fake a medical emergency to get exemptions. “As long as the law, which I am supposed to enforce, has not been declared unconstitutional or ultra vires, I have no option but to enforce it. So as far as I am concerned, the notification which has been issued by the government is a valid law (on odd-even scheme). So as a law enforcement officer, I shall be implementing the same.”

On the AAP government’s move to deploy volunteers for implementation of the scheme, Mr Bassi said it was now clear that only civil defence volunteers could be pressed into service and none of them would act independently.

He said the volunteers will be working with the Delhi police, transport department officials or authorised SDMs. He made it clear no civilian would be permitted to stop anybody or force anybody to go back. He added: “No vigilantism will be permitted. Not only in this regard, but for any other issue, no democratic society can afford to permit vigilantism. The rule of law and vigilantism cannot co-exist.”