The move comes after the green court asked government not to give exemptions to women drivers, two-wheelers.
New Delhi: The Delhi government Saturday decided to do away with the odd-even scheme, due to be implemented from Monday, despite the National Green Tribunal giving its nod for the same.
The move comes after a special hearing at the NGT where the fate of the scheme was discussed. Although the NGT allowed the government to go ahead with the road-rationing scheme, the tribunal barred it from giving exemptions to women drivers, two-wheelers, VIP vehicles, among others. Only exceptions made were for vehicles for essential services such as transportation of solid waste, fire brigade, etc.
The court had also raised the point in its previous hearing that the two-wheelers contributed to a major portion of vehicular pollution and demanded a reason for their exemption.
The NGT had directed the government to implement the odd-even scheme each time the PM 2.5 levels reached about 300 and PM 10 levels reached above 500 in order to avoid late action to combat the hazardous air pollution levels
However, the government decided to call off the decision altogether in the light of the NGT order barring exemptions. Citing safety of women as a concern, the government said it was not willing to compromise on this matter.
The Delhi government will now approach the NGT for a review meeting on 13 November to discuss the exemptions in the scheme.
Although the odd-even car scheme is considered an emergency measure, experts have stressed the need for long-term solutions, including augmenting of transport system, improving civic construction methods to reduce dust, as well as curbing waste burning to bringing down the air pollution levels in the city.