Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

The Odd-Even rule was imposed at the Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) last week, and citizens of the region are unhappy about it. They say that this rule that is scheduled to stay until 15 November only curbs their freedom.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

The general population that uses personal vehicles to commute on a daily basis say they feel that their freedom of movement has been restricted by the government. They also feel that CNG vehicles should be exempted from the scheme.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

The odd-even traffic rationing scheme allows for vehicles with even registration numbers to run on public roads on even dates, and vehicles with odd registration numbers to run on odd dates.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

Citizens have complained about CNG vehicles being included in the scheme to the High Court. They say that CNG vehicles should have been allowed to run (irrespective of their registration numbers) considering they have lower emission compared to petrol and diesel vehicles.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

The High Court asked the state government to take up the petitions, and in response, the government said that CNG vehicles were part of the scheme only to help reduce congestion in the heavily polluted city.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

The Delhi government imposed the odd-even rule with the aim of reducing pollution in the city, and to improve the (AQI) Air Quality Index. The AQI has been in the "Severe" zone for over eight-weeks. The government says that limiting the number of vehicles on the road will help reduce traffic, and will reduce vehicular emissions.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

Exceptions to the rule are all two-wheelers, VIP vehicles, and vehicles driven by women, and those ferrying school children.

The governments says that while CNG cars emit lower Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide as compared to petrol and diesel engines, the difference in emissions is not large enough to warrant an exclusion from the scheme.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and The Energy and Resources Institute conclude that two-wheelers have a larger share in the overall PM2.5 emissions as compared to four-wheelers.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

Both institutions have called for a comprehensive plan to control air pollution, and also concur that results of previous odd-even schemes have had no observable effects on the air quality indexes.

Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Government Faces Backlash As Delhi Protests

Thoughts About Delhi-NCR Being Unhappy With The Odd-Even Scheme

Rightly so! Delhi's pollution problem is a result of violation of government directives, industry guidelines, emission norms, and a ‘chalta hai' attitude. In fact, the lot of people who violate these guidelines the most are all sitting within the government ranks.

What the entire region needs is a plan that includes areas outside of Delhi where crop burning and industrial pollution is rampant. Air quality can be improved only if laws are implemented thoroughly and without exception. Having said that, we're surprised Mr Kejriwal had nothing to say personally. Shame.

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Read more on: #auto news
Article Published On: Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 11:35 [IST]
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