Kejriwal Calls Odd-Even a Success, SC Questions Its Effectiveness

Chief Justice TS Thakur said this while hearing a PIL filed in 1985 to check pollution levels.

Traffic in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday congratulated Delhiites for making the second phase of the odd-even scheme a “success”, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur wondered why the scheme was unable to reduce the pollution levels while hearing a PIL filed in 1985 to check pollution levels.

Why no difference is made out in pollution level in Delhi, even after steps have been taken like odd-even scheme, diversion of trucks from the national capital. What are the solutions?

Supreme Court

Earlier in December, TS Thakur, had virtually endorsed the Delhi government’s decision to allow plying of private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers on alternate days to lower pollution levels, saying it can be followed “if it helps in reducing” the problem.

He had said that he was not averse to pooling vehicle with brother judges.

Kejriwal said the fate of the odd-even scheme’s next edition will be decided only after a report on a comparative study of the two phases by a committee set up by the government is brought out.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai claimed that the compliance rate of the scheme was 99.6%, which indicates that people followed the odd-even scheme and people “made history” by following the fortnight-long car-ration scheme which ends on Saturday.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been asked to submit its report on pollution level from April 6 to May 6 so that government could get to know about the levels of pollution before and after the scheme, Rai said.

The minister claimed that during the second phase, the pollution level increased three-fold in border areas compared to inner areas where it has gone down significantly.

Also read: Delhi’s Air Pollution Rose 23% During Second Odd-Even Phase

The Supreme Court also rapped the Centre, on Saturday for not coming forward with any solution to reduce pollution levels in the city.

A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said:

What are the people doing in the ministry? Why can’t they come up with some research and solutions? Why can’t you research what is happening in rest of the world? You people are just sipping coffee and doing nothing. Courts are being forced to go into all these kind of matters.

The bench also comprising Justice A K Sikri and R Banumathi said that the ministry is just waiting for some one to come up with a solution before the court and then they will deal with the issue.

Why you have to wait for senior advocate K K Venugopal and his team to research and come out with the solutions. Why can’t you yourself do it. It is a matter of life which is affecting the people

Supreme Court

Maninder Singh, Additional Solicitor General said that the Centre and stake holders will sit together and go through the report and whatever possible steps required will be taken.

Government is fully committed to the issue and once we see the material and find it feasible, necessary steps will be taken.

Maninder Singh, Additional Solicitor General

(With inputs from PTI.)

Also read: Dear Mr Kejriwal, Why Did You Think Odd-Even Would Work?