Delhi HC to decide on odd-even scheme on Monday

Delhi govt tells court it wants to extend the experiment beyond Jan 15

The Delhi High Court will give its ruling on the continuation of the odd-even car rationing scheme on January 11, even as the Delhi government submitted that it wanted to extend the programme beyond 15 days. According to the state government, the pollution level of particulate matter across the national capital has shown a declining trend after the implementation of the scheme.

The court has been hearing several petitions challenging the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s experiment of car rationing to contain pollution levels in the capital.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the Delhi government, submitted before the court, “The Delhi government must be permitted to continue with the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme and if these adverse weather conditions continue, then our recommendation is that the programme should also be continued beyond 15 days.”

Salve told the Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and judge Jayant Nath that the capital was piloting its first-ever emergency action and it be permitted to do so. The court had during the last hearing on January 6 demanded to know from the Delhi government why the scheme should not be restricted to a week till January 8. The government was asked to submit the pollution figures across the capital, to see if the scheme had any impact on curbing pollution. The court had criticised the insufficient public transport and inconvenience the scheme was causing to citizens.

Salve, who was accompanied by Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai and other AAP leaders in the court, told the Bench, “This is consistent with global best practice. Vehicles that are second highest emitters in the city are responsible for very high exposure and health impacts. Emissions from vehicles caught in the congestion increase two times due to idling and frequent acceleration and deceleration.”

Salve added: “The first few days of the programme have already demonstrated that peak pollution levels are lower than the normal smog peaks of the season, despite the adverse weather conditions.”

He stated that particulate and nitrogen oxide load from cars have come down by 40 per cent, largely due to reduction in diesel cars. This was immediately disputed by the petitioners, which included the Delhi High Court Bar Association, saying 46 per cent of the pollution is caused by trucks and that the Delhi government was adopting a pick and choose policy against car owners.

Even though the court has reserved its order for Monday on whether the odd-even scheme would run its course, Delhi transport minister Rai exuded confidence that it would carry on till its scheduled date of January 15.

Rai told reporters: "The scheme will continue for 15 days. Till January 15, we will collect data and thereafter do a proper analysis and take a decision (on formulation of policy to reduce pollution)."

The minister said the city's air quality would have been 'worse' had there been no odd-even scheme in place. "The world, including Delhi, has felt the impact of the odd-even plan," he added.