Delhi government relents, says Odd-Even rule to have no exceptions

Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Wednesday submitted its action plan to combat pollution recommending no exemption be given under the odd-even car rationing scheme in the state. 

The government in its plan to the National Green Tribunal also said that construction will completely stop once pollution level touches 'severe' category'. The entry of trucks in Delhi will also be banned when pollution levels are 'severe'.

The NGT had recently pulled up the Delhi government for its "lackadaisical" approach over rising pollution levels in the city. While the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan had filed their action plans with the tribunal, the Delhi government had failed to do so.

The Delhi government had sought more time to submit the plan on the contention that its Chief Secretary and environment secretary were recently changed and the new officers needed to settle down to finalize the plan. But the court apparently was not impressed with the reason.

"Where is your action plan? Why have you not submitted it? What can we do if you keep on changing everybody? It`s not our problem if people don`t want to stick to you," the NGT had said.