As the air quality in the national capital declined further on Monday, the political war of words peaked as Environment Minister Gopal Rai hit back at the BJP for questioning the return of the ‘Odd-Even’ rule amid mounting pollution concerns.With the air quality worsening further on Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday chaired an emergency meeting, deciding to bring back the ‘Odd-Even’ rule.
Speaking to reporters, Rai took a swipe at the BJP saying, “The whole of North India is in the grip of air pollution and the BJP is only raising questions.”
Questioning the BJP’s efforts at mitigating air pollution, noting that they were in power in three of Delhi’s neighbouring states, the AAP leader added, “All that the BJP does is just raise questions. They are in power in three of Delhi’s neighbouring states and are, yet, not making any effort to reduce stubble burning in Uttar Pradesh or Haryana. Neither is the central government showing any urgency to address mounting air pollution concerns.”
The minister added that as many as “53 districts in the country are polluted, of which 20 are in Haryana”.
“I urge the BJP government in Haryana to stop the plying of diesel buses in the state and enforce a ban on cracker bursting. Mere lip service by the BJP won’t reduce pollution,” the minister added.
The AAP government in Delhi on Monday decided to reintroduce the ‘Odd-Even’ rule from November 13 to 20 in view of concerns around the deterioration in air quality.
Speaking to media persons after the high-level meeting, the Environment minister informed that the ‘Odd-Even’ will be reintroduced in the national capital after Diwali, which will be celebrated on November 12, and will continue for a week.
He said a decision on further extending the odd-even rule would be taken later.
“In view of the prevailing air pollution, the ‘Odd-Even’ rule will be in force for a week — November 13 to 20,” Rai said.
He added that there is a possibility that the wind speed will increase on November 7 and 8, which is expected to reduce the extent of air pollution in the national capital.
“According to the weather forecast in Delhi over the next few days, the wind speed will be 12km/hour tomorrow, and if it reaches 10 to 12 km/hour, there is a possibility that the pollutants accumulated in the air will disperse. The wind speed is expected to be 8-10 km/hour on November 8. We are hopeful that with the wind speed picking up over the next few days, the air pollution will be reduced,” he said.
The ‘Odd-Even’ scheme is a traffic rationing measure under which vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit are to be allowed on roads on odd dates and those with an even digit on even dates.
According to the data issued by the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality in the national capital on Monday was recorded at 488, up from 410 a day ago.
