Odd-even formula politically correct, class-based, won’t work: Experts

New Delhi: Why exempt two-wheelers and women from the odd-even formula?

Environmentalists and experts strongly feel that these exemptions announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday was uncalled for. Instead of making the odd-even formula to curb pollution a “politically correct one and class-based, the initiative should have purely been scientifically based”, they say.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has expressed strong concern over the slew of announcements made by the Delhi chief minister on the formula on Thursday.

“There are two major concerns—one, exemption given to two-wheelers and second, to women. Two-wheelers contribute more than 30% of the total pollution caused by the vehicles. It should have also been covered under the odd-even formula. And, should there be class differentiation? Majority of women use public transport in Delhi. Government shouldn’t have given exemption to women and should have treated them at par,” opined executive director, CSE, Anumita Roy Chowdhury.

“Had odd-even formula been extended to two-wheelers, buses could have got more space on roads to ply on. This would have reduced traffic volume on roads and more number of buses could move efficiently, without facing traffic congestion,” she added.

There are over 55 lakh two-wheelers including motorbikes and scooters as compared to over 27 lakh private cars in Delhi. There are about 85 lakh private vehicles registered in Delhi.

According to environmentalists, bikes and scooters emit nearly 32% of air pollutants generated by the transport sector in Delhi, whereas private cars are the third biggest polluter — 22%, after Diesel-run trucks, which causes nearly 28% of vehicular pollution.

In today’s announcement, besides the VVIPs (barring Delhi CM and his family members), the AAP government provided exemption to single women drivers, women drivers with a male child up to the age of 12 and two-wheelers.

Is Delhi CM tried to be politically correct by making such announcement?

“Why an experiment to curb pollution in Delhi that has reached a dangerous level has to be politically correct and class-based? If the government has been trying to find out a solution through an experiment based on odd-even formula, it should purely be scientifically based one. There shouldn’t be any kind of politics in it. Let’s give 15 days and see the result. By exempting two-wheelers, the experiment has got diluted and non-valid. Restriction of cars shall have marginal impact,” remarked Ravi Agarwal, director, Toxics Link.

“Besides restrictions, there is a strong need to work on emission norms in India. Government has imposed ban on 15-year-old commercial vehicles. But age of vehicles is not enough. The government should work with the car manufacturers so as to discourage manufacture diesel vehicles. Considering lower price of diesel to petrol, consumers go for it, which needs to be banned,” he said.

The other factors of vehicular pollution in the urban areas are 2-stroke engines, poor fuel quality, old vehicles, inadequate maintenance, congested traffic, poor road condition and old automotive technologies and traffic management system. “Moreover, there is a need for a long-term private transport policy which will take care of all the factors causing hazardous air pollution. It should be followed by a strict implementation rather than compromises,” added Agarwal.