Delhi govt defers implementation of odd-even scheme till SC reviews effectiveness

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government has deferred the implementation of the odd-even scheme in the national capital after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order. Addressing a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the city government would submit the results of two major studies conducted by the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago and the Delhi Technical University to determine the scheme’s effectiveness for the Supreme Court’s review. “The decision to implement the odd-even scheme will be made only after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order,” the minister said, adding that the matter will be next heard on Friday. On Tuesday, the apex court questioned the effectiveness of the car rationing scheme referring to it as “mere optics.” Rai had previously announced the flagship scheme, which permits cars to operate on alternate days based on their odd or even number plates, would be enforced between November 13 and November 20. e impact of the odd-even system in 2016 and found that Delhi saw a 14-16 per cent reduction in PM2.5 levels during the hours it remained in force in January that year. However, there was no reduction in pollution when the scheme was brought back in April that year. Meanwhile, schools in Delhi have announced an early winter break for the 2023-2024 session as the air quality in the national capital continues to remain severe. “All schools shall observe Winter Break wef. November 9, 2023 to November 18, 2023,” the notification by the Directorate of Education, Delhi government stated. “In the wake of implementation of GRAP-IV measures due to Severe + Air Quality prevailing in Delhi and seeing that no respite from such adverse weather conditions in near future is predicted by the IMD, the Winter Break for the session 2023-24 is ordered to be preponed so that schools can be totally closed and both children and teachers can stay at home,” the notification read.

With inputs from PTI