Particulate pollution down 40% with odd-even scheme, Delhi govt tells HC

New Delhi: The Delhi government told the bench that particulate and nitrogen oxide load from cars have come down during odd-even programme by as much as 40% and higher share of pollution benefits have come from reduction in diesel cars.

However, this submission was opposed by the petitioners who said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has carried out a pick and choose policy against car owners whereas 46% pollution is caused by trucks.

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) President Rajiv Khosla, one of the petitioners who has challenged the Delhi government's December 28, 2015 notification that brought the formula, said the data submitted by the government is not correct.

During the hearing, Salve, who was accompanied by Transport Minister Gopal Rai, other AAP leaders and the Delhi government's Senior Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra, submitted that the scheme was for the benefit of the people.

The bench, which was hearing 12 petitions challenging the odd-even formula, had on January 6 asked the AAP government to consider if it can be restricted to a week instead of a fortnight as it was causing inconvenience to the public.

It had also sought data related to changes in pollution level between January 1-7 and said though it does not interfere with the policies, the government must think about it as the people were complaining about inconvenience being caused to them due to insufficient public transport.

The petitions have been filed by various individuals, including lawyers, who have challenged the AAP goverment's December 28, 2015 notification bringing into force the scheme which allows private cars having odd registration numbers to ply on odd dates and those with even numbers on even dates.