Delhi smog: AAP govt files plea before NGT on Odd-Even, seeks relief for women, two-wheelers

The Delhi government on Monday moved National Green Tribunal, seeking amendment in its November 11 order on the odd-even scheme. Tribunal is likely to hear the plea tomorrow.

The NGT had on November 11 given a conditional nod to the AAP government's decision to implement the odd-even car rationing scheme for five days from November 13, ordering that no exemption should be allowed to "any person or officer and two-wheelers".

It had said the odd-even scheme should be implemented "without any default" as and when PM (particulate matter) 10 level goes above 500 microgrammes per cubic metre and PM 2.5 level crosses the limit of 300 microgrammes per cubic metre during a span of 48 hours.

Hearing the plea, the tribunal on Monday took Delhi government to task, saying no review petition has yet been filed on the Odd-Even policy and asked the government if it was just a media stunt.

The air quality in Delhi had deteriorated on Sunday after a sharp rise in presence of pollutants.The AAP dispensation was also in touch with environment scientists and continuously monitoring the alarming pollution level which has left people gasping for breath. "Movement of trucks and construction works are under scrutiny, water is being sprinkled, we are continuously monitoring the situation," Rai said, adding "there is a meeting with Pawan Hans officials today to discuss the plan of aerial sprinkling of water".

Both PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels, measured at 480 and 712 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively, were back at the "emergency" threshold of the Graded Response Action Plan.

The figure in other NCR cities, too, was alarmingly high on Sunday - 468 in Faridabad, 498 in Ghaziabad, 460 in Gurgaon and 492 in Noida.

Experts had earlier forecast a drop in levels from Sunday onwards, but pollution levels rose once again from Saturday evening due fall in temperatures and a drop in the 'boundary layer', which traps pollutants and separates the surface atmosphere with the outer atmosphere.

The NGT on Saturday had given a go-ahead to the Odd-Even scheme to be implemented from November 13 but reprimanded the Delhi government for acting late on rising pollution levels.

OneIndia News