Odd-Even not a permanent solution to pollution: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the Odd-Even vehicle rationing scheme is not a permanent solution to the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, and neither is the 15-day clean-air campaign launched here during the day.

The 'Clean Air for Delhi' campaign was launched jointly by Union Environment and Climate Change Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Kejriwal, to find a permanent solution to the rising pollution levels in the National Capital Region, including Delhi, through experiments and an awareness drive over 15 days.

"This drive will not remain confined to 15 days. It is also not the permanent solution to the air pollution in Delhi. Earlier, we had Odd-Even traffic scheme, which is also not a permanent solution to the issue," Kejriwal said.

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has twice implemented the Odd-Even scheme, in an effort to reduce the city's record-high air pollution by limiting the number of cars on streets.

The 15-day vehicle rationing scheme was first implemented in January 1, 2016, and was touted as a success by the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

High compliance was witnessed during the scheme's implementation and over 9,000 challans were issued by the Delhi Transport department against violators.

Although the government claimed that pollution levels were down and Delhi was relatively congestion free, experts were sceptical about its impact without conclusive evidence.

The second phase of Odd-Even was rolled out on April 15, 2016.

The government cracked down on violators this time as well, with over 2,000 fines collected in the first two days.

Problems were amplified because unlike the previous round, schools were not shut and the government added people driving with schoolchildren in uniform in its exemption list.

The Chief Minister said on Saturday that a scientific analysis of pollution sources in NCR was required round the year.

"Studies should be conducted round the year on the pollution sources," Kejriwal stated.

As many as 70 teams with officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, civic bodies, Delhi Police and NGOs have been formed for the campaign.

The campaign's outcome will help the Ministry to form a larger policy framework to apply throughout the year as permanent solutions to air pollution, he added.