Odd-Even Rule Paused As Supreme Court Questions Effectiveness; Delhi Minister Rai Says Will Implement After Review

The odd-even car rationing scheme in the national capital will only be implemented after a review of its effectiveness by the Supreme Court and the issuance of an order, as stated by the Delhi government today (8 November).

During a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai mentioned that the government would provide the results of two significant studies conducted by the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago and the Delhi Technical University to evaluate the scheme's effectiveness for the Supreme Court's consideration.

Minister Rai emphasised, "The decision to implement the odd-even scheme will be made only after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order," and noted that the next hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the Delhi government's scheme, which aims to reduce vehicular pollution, deeming it primarily for appearance.

Earlier, Rai had announced the flagship scheme, which permits cars to operate on alternate days based on their odd or even number plates, to be in effect from 13 November to 20 November.

The 15-day odd-even formula in Delhi in January 2016 failed to improve the national capital's air pollution levels as there was barely any impact on the vehicular pollution load, the study found.

Though it unclogged the traffic in the peak hours, the odd-even rule didn't result in the anticipated traffic emission reductions in January 2016, Indian scientists reported in the journal Current Science.

Gopal Rai also stated that the entry of app-based taxis into Delhi has been banned per the Supreme Court's order. Additionally, the Delhi government has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to operate the Connaught Place smog tower at full capacity and release the remaining funds to IIT Kanpur for a study to identify various pollution sources in the capital.

Furthermore, Gopal Rai announced a special drive to monitor and prevent the open burning of waste in Delhi, with 611 teams assigned to this task.