EPCA welcomes moves, but questions implementation

NEW DELHI: The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control Authority) Authority (EPCA) on Thursday welcomed the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme by the Delhi government and said that it was recommended under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The Supreme Court-appointed body, however, asserted that the government should take all responsibilities of the scheme and to monitor its effects.

"It is completely a government decision and we have just recommended it. The government should monitor it properly and take all responsibility of its outcomes," said Bhure Lal, Chairperson, EPCA.

EPCA had earlier urged the government to implement all plans under the 'severe' plus category of GRAP.

The Authority also said that the plan should not disrupt other ongoing decisions to combat air pollution.

EPCA member Mukhesh Khare stated, "The last time we noted that the outcome of Odd-Even is nothing outstanding."

He elaborated that due to several exemptions in the scheme, the final outcome does not have much effect.

"We noted that during the hours when this scheme is not enforced, all vehicles move, thereby keeping the pollution level high. This happens during late night and early morning," Khare said.

However, he expressed hope that air quality will become better in the last week of November.

NEW DELHI: Welcoming the Odd-Even vehicle rationing scheme, several experts and environmental bodies in the Capital have insisted that the implementation of the scheme should be a coordinated action across various sectors and geographies.

Environmentalists have asserted that after introducing the Odd-Even, if the government does not monitor other restrictions, the scheme would be in vain.

"Bringing back the Odd-Even is a good Idea. But we also have to be aware that many other factors such as industries, thermal power plants, construction and biomass burning in a larger region also contribute to hazardous pollution levels in Delhi," said Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner of Greenpeace India.

Talking to Millennium Post, Dahiya added "we should not repeat the mistakes of sparing the big polluters, i.e. thermal Power Plants in larger regions around Delhi."

Agreeing with Dahiya's views, Anumita Roychowdhuri of the Centre for Science and Environment said, "This is the first time Delhi will witness a winter with emergency pollution condition."

"Keeping in mind the atmospheric condition, the government should enforce all the plans properly and should not concentrate on just one plan," she added.

Many experts cautioned that implementation of any plan with political motivation will only harm the people of Delhi.