Uncertainty prevails over the implementation of the ‘odd-even scheme’ in Delhi with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday asking the city government to explain why the measure should be rolled out in the Capital next week when the pollution levels, according to reports, are likely to reduce considerably.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, while refusing to comment on the NGT’s directive since it was sub judice – the hearing remained inconclusive and will continue on Saturday – announced free bus rides aboard its Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) fleet during the proposed implementation of the vehicle-rationing measure.
“To encourage use of public transport during odd-even, Delhi govt to allow free travel for commuters in all DTC and Cluster buses from 13-17 November,” Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot tweeted.
The NGT Bench, headed by Tribunal’s chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked the Delhi government to submit reports or studies on the basis of which it planned to enforce the scheme. “What is the data on the basis of which the odd-even scheme is planned to be introduced only for five days, specially when the pollution is now diminishing, as reflected by the reports from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) ,” the Bench asked.
“On an earlier occasion when the odd-even scheme was implemented, the reports submitted by the CPCB and DPCC showed that the parameters of PM 2.5 and PM 10 had not reduced,” added the Bench.
The green panel rapped the AAP government for claiming that the decision of rolling out the scheme was undertaken following the guidelines of the Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA). “It was only one of the directions given by the EPCA. You have not followed 99 directions and introduced the odd-even scheme,” the Bench said.
The Delhi government’s decision to allow free travel for commuters in all DTC and cluster buses between November 13 and November 17, when the odd-even scheme is proposed to be implemented, is expected to cause a loss of Rs. 9.5 crore to the cash-strapped public transporter.
According to the latest data from June this year, the DTC, which has a fleet of nearly 4,000 buses, carries around 28 lakh passengers daily and earns on an average ₹1.88 crore per day.