Directing the Delhi government to implement the odd-even car rationing scheme in accordance to ‘strict conditions’, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday said that there will be “no exemption to any person, officer or individual including two wheelers from the odd even scheme.”
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar said that the orders have to be complied with strict rigour and is applicable to all vehicles. However, vehicles used for emergency services like ambulances and fire brigades have been exempted from the scheme.
Further, the green panel said that the odd even scheme will be complussory whenever the PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels cross the 500 and 300 mark respectively. “It shall be mandatory for NCT Delhi to implement the odd even scheme under such conditions and will not be optional for any officer of the government to not comply” said the bench.
Following submissions made by the scientists from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) regarding the reduction of pollutants after rain, the Tribunal observed, “Sprinkling of water shall be implemented without default in future and the coming week, if it does not rain in the next two days.”
The green panel has also directed the Delhi government to reconsider its decision regarding the increase in parking rates. “Creating undue burden on the common man is no solution to an environmental issue” said the bench.
The green panel has also constituted a committee comprising of the Director CPCB, transport commissioner, special secretary environment and a scientist from DPCC, to collect the data for the ambient air quality during peak hours, for the next 10 days. The committee is in charge of collecting the samples and analyse the same, before submitting it to the Tribunal.
Source : The Hindu