Delhi Govt To Implement Odd-Even Scheme After SC Reviews Its Effectiveness, Says Environment Minister Gopal Rai

Gopal Rai said the Delhi government will implement the odd-even car rationing scheme after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai.

Source : PTI

Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the Delhi government will implement the odd-even car rationing scheme in the national capital after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness. On Tuesday, the apex court questioned the effectiveness of the scheme, aimed at curbing vehicular pollution, and referred to it as "all optics."

Amid worsening air quality in the national capital, Rai had earlier announced the flagship scheme, under which cars are allowed to operate on alternate days based on their odd or even number plates, would be enforced between November 13 and November 20.

Addressing a press conference, Rai said the city government will submit two major studies conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of the scheme for the perusal of the Supreme Court.

"A call will be taken to implement the odd-even scheme only after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order," the Environment Minister said, as quoted by PTI. Speaking to the reporters, Rai said, "We will give complete information regarding Odd-Even to the Supreme Court during the next hearing."

#WATCH | Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai says, "We will give complete information regarding Odd-Even to the Supreme Court during the next hearing..." pic.twitter.com/90YG4nWoGA

— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2023

Introduced in 2016, the odd-even car rationing scheme allows cars to operate on alternate days based on their odd or even number plates.

Amid the worsening air pollution in the national capital, the Delhi government has preponed the winter break in schools. As per the official notice, Delhi schools will have an early winter break starting from November 9. The move from the Delhi government comes against the backdrop of the implementation of Graded Responses Action Plan Stage-4 (GRAP Stage-4) measures in the national capital.