New Delhi: Hours after the Supreme Court observed that Delhi's odd-even step to fight pollution was just mere optics, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said his government will study the apex court's order and then decide on the implementation of the car rationing scheme from November 13.
On Monday, the minister had announced that to combat pollution, the odd-even scheme will be enforced in the national capital from November 13-20.
Rai said he held a meeting with senior officers of the transport and environment departments and the traffic police to discuss the modalities of the odd-even scheme.
The government will now study the SC order and include its suggestions and directions to plan further, he added.
While hearing the matter of Delhi-NCR pollution, The apex court flagged issues like crop residue burning, vehicular pollution, and burning of waste in the open, reported PTI.
The SC directed the Delhi government to ensure that municipal solid waste is not burnt in the open. "Delhi can't be made to go through this year after year," the Division Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia said while hearing the matter.
On the issue of crop burning, the court said: "The crop is destroying the water table of the State. The problem just goes on each year," reported legal news website Bar & Bench. "The problem is the timing of the crop...by the time they shift to another crop......all these need to be sought out. I don't know... You get all the officers. We have zero patience on this," the court said.
Reacting to the Supreme Court's directions, Gopal Rai said, "The Supreme Court has given its observations related to stubble burning, firecrackers, and air pollution in Delhi. Our government will implement the order of the Supreme Court. The problem of pollution is the problem of the whole of North India. I request all governments... if we implement all the steps to reduce pollution, we will succeed."