Problems arising out of Delhi’s odd-even scheme had their echo at an all-party meeting convened by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, where an MP sought relief from the Speaker saying some members were facing i
Problems arising out of Delhi’s odd-even scheme had their echo at an all-party meeting convened by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, where an MP sought relief from the Speaker saying some members were facing inconvenience due to it.
Raising the issue, TRS leader A.P. Jithender Reddy said even parliamentarians like him were facing problems in commuting in Delhi due to the scheme as they had only one car here and only one sticker was issued to them by the Lok Sabha exempting them.
Sources said some other members at the all-party meeting supported the issue raised by Mr Reddy, while Bhartruhari Mahtab of BJD did not agree, saying members should cooperate and agree to the scheme that was aimed at reducing pollution and decongestion of the national capital.
“The Speaker is the custodian of Parliament and it was important to bring this issue at the meeting of leaders of all parties,” the MP from Mahabubnagar in Telangana said.
His request found some favour from the Speaker who later said that she has asked the Lok Sabha secretariat to work out ways so that MPs do not suffer while commuting.
“A request had come from some members. I have asked the Lok Sabhba secretariat and Secretary General that we will try that we provide vehicles to members properly as per odd-even scheme. We will try members should not suffer problems for coming to Parliament. “Some members rightly said that some members can face problems as only one of their vehicle is allowed. Even Parliament can face problems, as half the vehicles can be used at a time and half will not. Let us see and we will try and find a solution,” Ms Mahajan told reporters.
Mr Reddy also said, “We who come from Lok Sabha live in Delhi for maximum 75 to 100 days and Parliament provides a small flat to us. Senior-most MPs get a big house. For coming to Parliament, only one vehicle is there and only one pass is issued for the members.”
Meanwhile, with the second half of the Budget Session of Parliament beginning from Monday, the Delhi government on Sunay said it will run six special buses to ferry MPs and appealed to the legislators to follow the odd-even rule.
“I have appealed to all MPs to follow the odd-even rule. In order to facilitate the legislators, we have decided to run six ‘MP Special’ buses to ferry them to Parliament,” Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai told PTI.
Mr Rai said he also spoke to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan over telephone and sought details from her on the MPs attending Parliament.
“I have apprised her (Mahajan) of the Delhi government’s decision to run six special buses for MPs and if required, we will run more buses.”
The Delhi Transport Corporation will operate two “MP Special” buses each from North Block and South Block, and one each from Akhbar Road and Ashoka Road, he said.
“If MPs do not prefer to travel by buses, they have the option to carpool. They should contribute to make Delhi a pollution-free city,” the minister said.
Members of Parliament have not been given exemption under the odd-even scheme, the second phase of which started on April 15 and will end on April 30.
The violation of the car-rationing scheme attracts a penalty of Rs 2,000.
