New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said implementing the odd-even road rationing scheme would be the “last weapon” to fight air pollution in the city and presently the government is focusing on the “Red Light On, Gaadi off” campaign.
The odd-even scheme is a road rationing plan under which odd and even numbered vehicles ply on alternate days.
Responding to a question at a press conference, Rai said if all other ways fail then the Delhi government will think about implementing the odd-even scheme.
“We have implemented the odd-even scheme several times in Delhi and it will be our last weapon. Odd-even is also a way to reduce vehicular pollution so right now we are completely focussing on this (‘Red Light On, Gaadi off’) campaign and if all other programmes don’t work then the government will think about implementing the odd-even scheme,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on October 15 launched the ‘Red Light On, Gaadi off’ (red light on, engine off) campaign to tackle air pollution in the national capital and urged people to turn off the engines of their vehicles while waiting at traffic signals.
Rai, responding to another question, claimed that Delhi is the only place where air pollution has been reducing in the last five years and in all other places it has been seen that pollution is increasing.
“There are reasons for this result. Our government has provided 24 hour electricity which has reduced pollution caused by genset, which is now used only incase of emergency.
“Secondly, we increased afforestation in Delhi – we did double then what we were assigned by the Centre. Thirdly, Delhi is the first place to shift towards electric vehicles. These are all long term solutions,” he said.
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Delhi govt to deploy 2,500 environment marshals
Rai also said that Delhi government will deploy 2,500 environment marshals across the city to generate awareness about the anti-pollution campaign.
These marshals will be deployed at 100 traffic signals across Delhi’s 11 districts, he said.
The Delhi Environment said the shortlisted traffic signals are those where the red light is two-minute long.
“From October 21 to November 15, a ground-level awareness drive on ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ campaign will be launched at 100 traffic signals. We are in the process of appointing 2,500 environment marshals who will spread awareness about the campaign at these signals. It is an awareness drive, not an enforcement drive,” he said.
“The marshals will adopt the principle of ‘Gandhigiri’. They will give red roses to those not switching off the ignition at red lights. They will be made aware as to why it is important for them to do it and how they can fight pollution through the move,” he added.
The minister also urged all MPs, MLAs and political party leaders to participate in the campaign and spread awareness about it.
Experts say on average a vehicle stops at a red light for 15-20 minutes in a day, consuming 200 ml of fuel. This creates so much pollution. If 10 lakh vehicles switch off ignition at red lights, 1.5 tons of PM10 and 0.4 tons of PM2.5 will be prevented every year, he had said.
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