NGT rejects Delhi govt`s review petition, says exemption to two-wheelers against `spirit of odd-even policy`

The Arvind Kejriwal government had sought an exemption to women drivers and two-wheelers during the implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme here.

New Delhi: In a setback to the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday dismissed its review petition seeking an exemption to women drivers and two-wheelers during the implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme here.

According to ANI, the NGT, while rejecting the review application filed by the AAP government,  observed that granting an exemption to two-wheelers is against the spirit of Odd-Even policy.

The NGT ruled that any exemptions would only defeat purpose of the scheme since there are 60 lakh two-wheelers plying in Delhi, carry lesser number of passengers and are more polluting since they subscribe to older emission norms.

The Green court also observed that the application of the odd even scheme was based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and not any sort of discretion.

The Green Tribunal had last month too rejected the Delhi government’s plea seeking exemptions for women drivers and two-wheelers in its odd-even scheme to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region.

The NGT move came as a blow to Delhi government's plan to implement the car-rationing scheme in the national capital anytime soon.

The NGT also pulled up the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab for blaming each other for the decline in air quality and asked them to list the steps taken to control pollution.

The decision to implement the odd-even scheme was taken by the Delhi government after the city witnessed ‘severe’ and ‘emergency’ levels of air quality.

The government was set to introduce the odd-even scheme for the period 13-17 November, but shelved the plan after the NGT ruled against the several exemptions provided in the scheme.

The Delhi government had approached the tribunal specifically seeking exemptions for women drivers and two-wheelers. 

The government, however, withdrew its application after it failed to convince the NGT.

The tribunal also questioned the government over the number of public transport buses in the city and said that the government claimed it ordered thousands of buses but hadn’t got a single one yet.

The tribunal directed Delhi to ensure that diesel vehicles that are more than 10 years old are removed from city roads without any delay. It also said the city should not gift infected lungs to its children.

“It is pointed out that a large number of diesel taxis are being permitted to ply in NCT Delhi contrary to the judgment and directions of the Supreme Court of India. We direct the state government to look into this aspect and particularly the diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old must be taken off the road and seized without any further wasting of time,” the bench noted.

The tribunal also directed the Delhi government, all the municipal corporations and the PCBs (Pollution Control Boards) to identify a highly polluted area in Delhi and “ensure sprinkling of water by using appropriate equipment and, if possible, even by the helicopter to bring down the particulate matters in the ambient air quality.”

The bench also directed the Union Environment Ministry, the Delhi government’s transport ministry, PCBs of states in Delhi-NCR and the governments of Delhi and its neighbouring states to fully coordinate and cooperate to control air pollution.