The odd-even car-rationing scheme, despite preventing air pollution from getting worse, can be only an “emergency” measure, a green body on Thursday said, underlining the need for taking permanent steps to check air pollution in the Capital.
Noting that two-wheelers should also be included in the scheme, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the first experiment with the scheme in two phases have shown that cutting down vehicle numbers can reduce exposure to toxic pollution and prevents the peaks from getting worse.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday admitted for the first time that the odd-even scheme cannot be a long-term “remedy” to air pollution.
“Today the air in Delhi is so polluted, action needs to be taken now. Odd—even is an emergency measure. It cannot be brought often or everyday. But when it is brought, it will have an impact on pollution. Data shows, during odd—even pollution levels came down,” CSE Director General Sunita Narain told reporters here.
She said that two-wheelers should also be included in the scheme and no one should get exemption.
“Despite so many exemptions, pollution went down to some extent. It is a fact that after April 26 air pollution went up. It was because of crop fires in Punjab and Haryana. We have to understand relation between pollution and weather and then take measures accordingly,” she said.
