Odd-even rule back in Delhi on Nov 13 as curbs scaled up

The odd-even road rationing policy will be enforced in Delhi starting November 13, while all schools have been directed to suspend in-person lessons for students barring those in classes 10 and 12, state environment minister Gopal Rai announced on Monday, unveiling a raft of measures to help control the state’s unfettered pollution crisis, even as the air quality index (AQI) read “severe” for a fifth straight day.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

As the Sun remained veiled and the city cloaked by a thick coat of smog, Delhi on Monday clocked an AQI of 421, after readings of 454 on Sunday, 415 on Saturday and 468 on Friday. The city recorded an AQI of 392 in the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) official 4pm bulletin on Thursday, but this number spilled past 400 just an hour later. Delhi on Monday also logged its lowest minimum temperature so far this season —13.5°C.

According to the government’s odd-even policy, private vehicles with licence plates ending in odd numbers will be allowed on the streets on odd-numbered dates, while even-numbered vehicles can ply on even dates.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi has enforced this policy thrice before (in 2016, 2017 and 2019) in the Capital, even as experts and environmentalists have underlined a gamut of concerns with the programme. Several have called it short-sighted and unscientific, while others have highlighted the long list of exemptions to the rule, especially those for taxis and two-wheelers.

The policy, Rai said, will be effected a day after Diwali, when unfettered, illegal firecracker burning across Delhi maxes out pollution meters and keeps the city soaked in a marinade of toxic chemicals and particulate pollutants.

To be sure, he made no mention of the contours of the programme, and the details of this iteration of the scheme remain unclear.

“The decision to impose the odd-even policy has been taken as after Diwali, pollution may rise further. Odd-even will come into effect a day after Diwali, for a week’s time, so from November 13 till November 20. After that, based on the pollution levels prevailing in Delhi, further decisions can be taken,” Rai said, in a press conference after the meeting, adding that a meeting will be held on Tuesday to decide the exemptions for the vehicle rationing scheme.