'Odd-Even scheme will be our last weapon to fight air pollution': Delhi Environment Minister

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, commenting on Delhi's air pollution situation, said that the government will think about implementing the odd-even scheme if all other ways fail.

The odd-even scheme is a road rationing plan under which odd and even-numbered vehicles ply on alternate days.

Rai on Monday said that the government is currently focusing on the "Red Light On, Gaadi off" campaign and would only choose the odd-even road rationing scheme as the last resort.

"We have implemented the odd-even scheme several times in Delhi and it will be our last weapon. Odd-even is also a way to reduce vehicular pollution so right now we are completely focussing on this ('Red Light On, Gaadi off') campaign and if all other programmes don't work then the government will think about implementing the odd-even scheme," PTI quoted Rai as saying.

Rai announced that the campaign will be kick-started from October 21 onwards to control vehicular pollution in the city.

For the campaign, around 2,500 environment marshals will be stationed at 100 traffic signals across the city with placards, posters and roses to offer to drivers.

Out of 100, the government has also chosen 10 major traffic signals, where the stoppage time is more than two minutes. At these signals, the deployment of marshals will be more.

'Red light On, Gaadi Off' अभियान में दिल्ली के माननीय सांसद, विधायक, पार्षद, अधिकारियों एवं कर्मचारियों का एसोसिएशन, RWA's, इको-क्लब, मार्किट एसोसिएशन और इस संबंध में काम करने वाले NGO's इत्यादि को जोड़ा जा रहा है। https://t.co/B2OnFzISse

— Gopal Rai (@AapKaGopalRai) October 19, 2020

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on October 15 launched the 'Red Light On, Gaadi off' (red light on, engine off) campaign to combat air pollution in the national capital

Kejriwal said the people of Delhi have together worked to slash pollution levels by 25% over the last five years. "I hope all of you will be wholeheartedly involved in this campaign and I request everyone -- including the bus driver, the car driver, the taxi driver, the vehicle owner along with the scooter and the motorcycle driver -- to join the campaign."

"Around 1 crore vehicles are registered in Delhi. Experts say that even if 10 lakh vehicles shut down their vehicles at the traffic lights, it will reduce PM10 pollution by 1.5 lakh tonnes. Even PM2.5 pollution will also come down by 0.4 tonnes," explained Kejriwal.

According to experts, every driver in Delhi needs to stop at red lights for about 15 to 20 minutes every day. In winter, the smoke emanating from the car during the idling period on a traffic light pushes up pollution enormously.

If the driver switches off the engine at every traffic light, he can save 200 ml of fuel every day. This will result in an annual savings of Rs 7,000.

Kejriwal said that the Delhi government has taken several steps and initiated several campaigns to control air pollution within the city in the past few days.

(With agency inputs)