Odd-even car rationing scheme imposed in Delhi from November 13 to 17

NewDelhi: The Delhi government today said it will impose the odd-even car rationing scheme fromNovember 13-17 to combat the near deadly smog that’s blanketed the Capital since Tuesday.

Earlier today, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a slew of directions to deal with the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. The directions include banning construction and industrial activities and the entry of trucks. The NGT also lambasted the Delhi government and civic bodies over the worsening air quality in Delhi and neighbouring states.

 

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said yesterday, he had requested his counterparts from Punjab and Haryana+ to hold a meeting to chalk out a strategy to stop the practice of burning. Crop stubble, one of the main contributors to smog this week.

In fact, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and his Delhi counterpartsparred on Twitter+ yesterday over stubble burning.

 

Singh firmly conveyed there’s nothing he can do to ease the situation and said a solution should come from the Centre. Kejriwal asked if they can just talk. And Singh rebuffed him, reiterating that Punjab is “helpless”.

 

The horrific smog in Delhi-NCR+ since Tuesday has been caused not just by stubble burning, but also by toxic and excessive emissions from vehicles and rampant construction. However, stubble burning and a drop in temperatures have exacerbated the pollution to near deadly levels this week.

 

Kejriwal has charged that the two states have “failed” to provide farmers economically viable solutions tostop stubble-burning+ that causes poor air quality in the region.

 

“Until the state governments don’t find economically viable solutions to crop burning, it will not stop. If everyone including the Centre, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana govt can come together and put aside the politics, a solution can be found,” said Kejriwal yesterday.