Odd-even didn’t help curb pollution: Panel

Green court tells city govt to find solutions.

In an attempt to curb air pollution in the capital, the National Green Tribunal has directed the state government to conduct a meeting to come up with a solution. The direction comes after the bench of the National Green Tribunal was informed that the odd-even road space-rationing scheme did not make an impact on the air quality of the capital. The direction to hold such a meeting soon was given by a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar to the Delhi chief secretary, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and other stakeholders.

The order came after Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that there was no improvement in the air quality in Delhi during the second week of the odd-even scheme in April. In fact, as per its report, the ambient air quality in Delhi during the odd-even implementation period was found to have deteriorated further than the level when the restriction was not in force, it said.

“The counsel appearing for CPCB on instructions says there has been no improvement in ambient air quality of Delhi during implementation of odd-even scheme.... The chief secretary of NCT, Delhi shall conduct a meeting in relation to ambient air quality in Delhi,” the bench said. The matter was listed for next hearing on November 16. Earlier, the apex pollution monitoring body had told NGT that the decline in vehicular emission in the second week of odd-even scheme was not a dominant enough factor to impact the pollution levels.

The CPCB had monitored several pollutants between April 1-14 before the odd-even period and between April 15 and 30 during it, to arrive at the conclusion. The NGT was hearing a petition filed by scientist Mahendra Pandey who had sought independent monitoring of air quality index and alleged that vehicular emission was not a major contributing factor to pollution.

In his petition, Mr Pandey had claimed that no significant change in air quality was registered during the first phase of the scheme.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality on Tuesday took a turn for the worse with monitoring stations across the city recording it in the “very poor” category.

The average (24-hour rolling) of PM 2.5 and PM 10, suspended respirable pollutants, were recorded as 120.8 and 248 micrograms per cubic metre by System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar) around 5.30 pm, as against the corresponding safe limits of 60 and 100.

Safar's Dhirpur, Pitampura, Delhi University, Pusa road, Mathura road and Airport stations had “very poor” air quality index. Even last week, air quality fluctuated between moderate and poor categories.

In a letter to school principals, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia apprised them of the “manifold increase” in pollution levels due to use of crackers, advising them to raise awareness among children against its use.