NEW DELHI, Jan 29:
The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to submit an assessment report on the change in the level of air pollution in the national capital during the implementation of fortnight-long odd even scheme meant to restrict the number of cars on roads in order to curb vehicular emission.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also sought reply from the Delhi Government over the discrepancies in the data submitted by the state pollution control board and the one submitted by central pollution control board.
“Why there’s a huge difference in the pollution level report submitted by the state and central pollution authority.
The Delhi Government should submit their assessment report within a week. To bring the pollution levels down so they have any alternative plan for the capital,” the bench said. Besides, the green panel also constituted a committee comprising officials from the Central and state pollution boards, Ministry of Environment, Union Ministry of Transport and state transport department and directed them to conduct a survey based on the level of emission generated by the vehicles.
“The committee submit a detailed inspection report. They must collect samples of all types of vehicles including two-wheelers, three wheelers as well as CNG buses, including all types of fuel variants,” the bench said. The court asked the committee to submit a report while seeking their reply by February 26 on the plea filed by environmental activist K Manoharan.
The odd-even scheme was the initiative taken by the Delhi government to curb the pollution level in the city, declared as the most polluted metropolitan in the world. Under the 15-day-long car-rationing scheme which was implemented in Delhi on January 1, there were restriction on private vehicles to ply on roads which meant that odd-numbered vehicles will be allowed to ply on odd dates and vice-versa.
The restriction applied from Monday to Saturday between 0800 hours and 2000 hours except Sundays. (UNI)
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