Will take call on odd-even on Fri after SC hearing: Rai

A decision on the odd-even road rationing scheme proposed to be implemented from Monday, November 13, will be taken on Friday after the Supreme Court’s hearing on the measures taken for air pollution in the national Capital, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.

- Alok KN Mishra

At its hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court termed the odd-even scheme as “optics” and appeared to question its efficacy and success in the past in reducing the dangerously high pollution levels. In the written order that followed the hearing, the bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia asked the Delhi government to revert on Friday.

“It is thus suggested that though the Delhi Government is seeking to impose restrictions on the basis of “Odd-Even”, she (amicus curiae Aparajita Singh) submits that this is really an unscientific method. If on the basis of colour-coded stickers, vehicles which have orange stickers (run on diesel) can be banned instead. On this aspect also, the state government will report back to us,” the bench said on Tuesday.