File Picture Courtesy : Rediff.com
The Delhi government has said it will impose the odd-even car rationing scheme from November 13-17 to combat the near deadly smog that’s blanketed the Capital since Tuesday.
Earlier according to Times of India report , the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a slew of directions to deal with the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. The directions include banning construction and industrial activities and the entry of trucks. The NGT also lambasted the Delhi government and civic bodies over the worsening air quality in Delhi and neighbouring states.
Meanwhile , the NHRC has sent notices to Centre, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana govts on “life-threatening” pollution in Delhi-NCR, reports The Indian Express.
Despite clampdown, stubble burning in Haryana continues adding to Delhi’s worsening pollution levels. The smog delayed 41 trains in Delhi , rescheduled 9 and 10 were cancelled.
The Capital’s average daily air quality index (AQI) is at a season high of 478. To mitigate the effect, the Delhi L-G has banned the entry of trucks inside city limits and halted all construction activities.
The Delhi government issued a health advisory urging Delhiites to use carpooling and public transport, stay indoors, and not to smoke.
The Delhi High Court , Calling it an “emergency situation”, a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the government to consider the option of “cloud seeding” to induce rainfall artificially, as an immediate step to bring down the dust and particulate matter in the atmosphere.
It directed the Delhi government to seriously consider a ban on further construction in the city to the extent possible and implementing the ‘odd-even’ vehicle usage scheme as a short term measure.
