Odd-even rule in Delhi from November 13-20 amid pollution crisis
Amid the deteriorating air pollution levels, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said the odd-even vehicle rationing rule will be implemented in the national capital from November 13 to 20. Furthermore, schools have now been shut until Friday for students up to Class 11. The announcement comes after a high-level meeting over implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV in Delhi.
Why does this story matter?
The air quality in Delhi remained in the "severe plus" category on Monday for the second consecutive day. The average air quality index (AQI) was at 471 on Monday morning, per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data. Notably, a combination of smoke from stubble burning and vehicle and factory emissions increases Delhi's pollution levels significantly every winter.
Check out Rai's comments here
About Delhi government's odd-even rule
Under the odd-even vehicle rationing system—the Delhi government's flagship initiative to battle air pollution—only vehicles with registration numbers ending in odd digits (1, 3, 5, 9) are permitted to ply on roads on odd-numbered dates. Those with even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are allowed on even-numbered days. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's government has decided to implement the scheme a day after Diwali.
Atishi's earlier announcement on school closure
On Sunday, Delhi Education Minister Atishi announced that primary schools (up to Class 5) will remain closed until Friday (November 10) due to the deteriorating air quality. However, the closure has now been extended to all classes, barring Classes 10 and 12, per reports. Earlier, schools were given the option to conduct online classes for students of Classes 6 to 12.
AAP blames BJP-led Haryana for Delhi air pollution
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi blamed neighboring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Haryana for the current pollution crisis, but didn't name Punjab which has also been seeing instances of stubble burning. AAP National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, "The stubble burning in Punjab is about 500km away...Haryana is 100km away. An analysis should be done on anti-pollution measures taken by...Haryana since 2014."
Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, UP impacting Delhi's AQI
It's worth noting that air pollution levels peak every year in Delhi between November 1 and November 15 as farmers in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab ramp up stubble-burning activities. However, Delhi Environment Minister Rai, too, previously blamed farm fires in BJP-ruled states of Haryana and UP, and not the AAP-governed Punjab, for the deteriorating AQI in the national capital.
