Why didn't you introduce odd-even plan earlier when air quality was worse? NGT asks Delhi govt

Photo: People distributing anti-pollution masks and carrying oxygen cylinders (PTI)

NEW DELHI: Pulling up the Arvind Kejriwal government over the move to implement the odd-even scheme in Delhi to combat pollution, the National Green Tribunal on Saturday questioned why the step was not taken earlier.

"Why didn't you introduce odd-even plan earlier when air quality was worse," the NGT asked Delhi government. 

The tribunal also asked the dispensation if the odd-even plan has the consent of both the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi government.

The tribunal had earlier banned construction, industrial activities as well as the entry of trucks in Delhi, as it rapped the state government and civic bodies over the alarming pollution situation in the city. It also ordered diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol cars older than 15 to be stopped from entering Delhi.

The Delhi government has also said that travel on DTC and cluster buses will be free for all from November 13 to November 17 when the odd-even scheme will in force.

The government is also looking to add 500 additional buses to the existing fleet of around 4,000 DTC buses. There are also 1,600 cluster buses in service. Critics though predict it may not be even close to enough.