Kejriwal: Centre trying to sabotage scheme
Delhi on Friday showed the way as the controversial and ambitious odd-even scheme of the AAP government to combat spiralling air pollution got off to a successful start. Vehicles with even-numbered registration plates stayed off the roads, reducing considerably the volume of traffic in the national capital. Buoyed by the decent start, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took a dig at the Centre, saying, “Dilli ke logon ne kendra sarkar ki aisi-taise kar di... Unhon ne kendra ko angootha dikha diya. (The people of Delhi today showed that they don’t care about the Central government.)” He also accused the Centre of trying to sabotage the scheme of road-rationing on the eve of its implementation by instigating the strike by bureaucrats.
The CM, however, maintained there would be a reassessment after the pilot plan ends on January 15 and that it would never be “permanently” implemented. Some AAP ministers car-pooled, others used motorcycles and public transport to commute up to Delhi Secretariat.
There were also people who took out their cars with even-numbered registration numbers, but the Delhi police prosecuted 138 people for violating the odd-even rule. AAP volunteers did not intervene in police work. At many intersections one could see civil defence volunteers holding placards bearing environment-friendly messages. Some volunteers were also seen greeting motorists with flowers.
To cope with the extra pressure on the public transport network, about 3,000 private buses had been hired for different routes all across the city. The Delhi Metro also made about 70 extra trips. About 200 teams of traffic police, 66 enforcement teams of the transport department and 40 teams of sub-divisional magistrates were deployed across the city to ensure strict implementation of the scheme, which remains in force till 8 pm on week days.
At certain areas the police fined violators while volunteers and civil defence personnel offered people roses, prodding them politely. The first prosecution for violating restrictions took place at ITO junction about 33 minutes after the restrictions were implemented Friday morning. Even BJP MP and former Mumbai commissioner Satyapal Singh was stopped while travelling in his even-numbered car.
Overwhelmed by the response of the people on the first day of the initiative, Mr Kejriwal explained that there would be a reassessment after the pilot plan ends on January 15 and that it would never be “permanently” implemented. He said the initiative had assumed the form of a “movement” within a few hours of its implementation from 8 am.
“This will go on till January 15. Then we will stop it and reassess. Nowhere in the world is the scheme enforced permanently. It is practically not possible. Whenever pollution levels spike, this is used as a weapon,” Mr Kejriwal said. The CM, however, said the restrictions may again be invoked for a few days in the next two or three months if pollution levels jump. “As per initial reports, the plan has been quite successful and people in the national capital have largely accepted the restrictions with an open mind,” he said.
While Mr Kejriwal, along with Cabinet colleagues Gopal Rai and Satyendra Jain, reached the Secretariat in his odd-number car, his deputy reached separately in his own vehicle. Environment minister Imran Hussain used public transport and tourism minister Kapil Mishra reached the Secretariat on his two-wheeler at 9 am. After reaching his office, Mr Mishra tweeted: “Wow Delhi. Thank you for making #OddEvenFormula a success... Just reached office on bike... No traffic... Delhi is following it voluntarily.”
As the clock struck eight on Friday morning, the vehicular restriction policy came into effect with thousands of volunteers carrying roses also taking to the streets to assist traffic police in enforcing the pilot plan, which will stay in force till January 15. The real test of the scheme’s effectiveness will be next week as a number of private offices were closed on Friday. Also, schools are shut for the winter vacation, which has also taken some traffic load off the roads.
Even as the scheme was unveiled, the air quality continued to remain very poor with areas of the city, including the Delhi Secretariat complex, recording a severe level of pollutants in real time. One such board outside Delhi Secretariat read suspended particulate matter PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 360 and 480 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively, at 9.30 am, several times above safe limits.
Later in the evening, the transport department proposed to allow the entry of trucks into the national capital from 11 pm as against the existing 9 pm in an effort to bring down pollution. As per rough estimates, around 50,000 trucks enter Delhi every day, contributing to pollution levels in the city. A senior officer said the proposal has been sent to the government, which will send it for approval to lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.
