Delhi government has cancelled its planned Odd-Even scheme scheduled to start from 13 November after the National Green Tribunal said its patience should not be tested.
Kejriwal’s Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot confirmed the news. The development has come after the Delhi chief minister called for an emergency meeting.
Gahlot said the government’s decision came in view of the directive by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which ordered the withdrawal of all exemptions, including to two-wheeler riders and woman-only vehicles, under the odd-even scheme.
The government is not ready “to compromise with the safety of women” after the NGT ordered that there should be no exemption to anyone expect emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire tenders, he said.
“We respect the NGT decision. Two conditions of NGT that two wheelers and women cannot be exempted make it difficult to implement odd-even as we do not have adequate buses,” Gahlot was quoted by PTI.
The NGT on Saturday given its nod to the Delhi government’s odd-even plan with certain conditions. It had made it clear that there will be no exemption to two-wheelers, women and government officials.
The National Green Tribunal had also admonished the AAP government for not testing the tribunal’s patience. While giving its nod to Odd-Evem scheme, the NGT made it clear that no exemption should be given to two-wheelers, government servants and women.
The NGT had directed all the neighboring state governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and departments to ensure complete mechanism during the environmental emergencies adding that they should not wait for crisis situation. It also directed various departments and executing agencies for better cooperation and coordination including Delhi police.
While hearing a matter on Odd-Even scheme, the NGT bench headed by Justice Swatantra Kumar said that its patience should not be tested. The tribunal also asked the Delhi government that when the statistics had indicated that rain led to a fall in pollution levels, why wasn’t any action taken?
More to follow