To address the rising air pollution in Delhi, the Delhi government filed an affidavit on Friday (November 10, 2023) after facing criticism from the Supreme Court. In this affidavit, they attempted to explain to the court the impact of implementing the odd-even scheme on pollution.
The Delhi government, while defending this scheme, stated that it reduces the congestion of vehicles. Public transportation usage increases, leading to a decrease in fuel consumption. The government further argued that it is not entirely possible to prevent registered taxis from other states from coming to Delhi. However, restrictions can be imposed based on fuel usage and their numbers.
The Supreme Court had previously criticized the odd-even scheme, calling it unscientific. The court emphasized that controlling pollution cannot be the sole responsibility of the court; everyone must participate, and the government must ensure their responsibilities. The court also questioned what the government should do to address the pollution issue in Delhi.
The Delhi government outlined measures taken to control pollution and stated that they are planning to implement the odd-even scheme in the city once again. However, the Supreme Court expressed displeasure and stated that the steps taken by them to control pollution are insufficient. They further said that the odd-even scheme is the most unscientific way to control pollution, and the government needs to explain how these measures actually help in reducing pollution.