After criticism, AAP puts car control norm in Delhi on 15-day trial

Facing flak from opposition over AAP government's move to curb movement of private vehicles, party leader Ashutosh today said this will be done on trial basis for 15 days starting January 1.

"On a trial-run basis, the government will try to see for 15 days whether it works well or not," Ashutosh said. Attacking the AAP government, Congress described the move as "anti- people" while BJP alleged that it was the "easiest knee-jerk" reaction after High Court's "harsh" comments on pollution issue.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a review meeting on the issue with ministers and concerned officials on December 8, a government spokesperson said. He also said the government has formed a three-member committee, to be headed by Transport Commissioner, to execute the decision.

"We have formed a three-member committee, which will be chaired by Transport Commissioner Parimal Rai. In the committee, Principal Secretary (Environment) and Divisional Commissioner will be its members.
"Besides, Delhi Traffic Police has been asked to associate the committee to execute the government's decision," a senior government official said. In a radical step to curb alarming air pollution, Delhi government on Friday restricted plying of private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers to alternate days from January 1 in the national capital.

The measures were announced following an emergency meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, a day after the Delhi High Court compared the city to a "gas chamber". Earlier in the day, Chief Secretary K K Sharma said the government decided to shut down the Badarpur Thermal power station and will move the National Green Tribunal to close the Dadri power plant which falls in Uttar Pradesh. He said the Government will carry out a massive plantation drive along all arterial roads across the city to curb spread of dust and ensure vacuum cleaning of roads by the Public Works Department from April 1.