The Delhi government on Monday moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking an amendment to its November 11 order on odd-even car rationing scheme.
The NGT said it would hear the plea on Tuesday.
The tribunal, on November 11, gave a conditional nod to the 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 said the 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 in 48 hours.
The government, on Saturday, scrapped its plan to implement the scheme it had slated to start from Monday, after the NGT said there would be no exemption for women, two-wheelers and government servants.
A traffic policeman, wearing an anti-pollution mask, mans traffic amid smog and air pollution which continues to be above dangerous level, at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.
Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday morning that the government would file a review petition before the NGT that two-wheelers and women be exempted from the odd-even scheme.
The national capital has been experiencing dense smog for about a week, forcing the authorities to enforce emergency measures such as banning construction activities and brick kilns in the National Capital Region.
The State government was also in touch with environmental scientists and continuously monitoring the alarming pollution level that 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,” Mr. Rai said, adding “there is a meeting with Pawan Hans officials today to discuss a plan of aerial sprinkling of water.”
The Minister, who holds the Transport portfolio along with several others, also hit out at the Haryana government for “playing the blame game on stubble burning instead of taking action in his own State.”
“The report for the last 48 hours given by the scientists is that the air quality is fluctuating. The report has been submitted to the Chief Minister and the Cabinet,” Mr. Rai said.
