NGT refuses plea against Delhi govt's odd-even scheme

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea challenging the decision of the AAP government to implement the odd-even road rationing scheme in the national capital from November 4-15.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel questioned the maintainability of the plea and "dismissed it as withdrawn".

"Under which law of the land is this plea maintainable," the bench said.

The plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal said CPCB did an assessment of the impact of the odd-even scheme on air quality of Delhi wherein it was found that during the implementation period, the ambient air quality of the city was found to be more deteriorated than the one when the said restriction was not in place.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on September 13 had said the odd-even scheme was part of the seven-point 'Parali Pradushan' (pollution caused by crop stubble burning) action plan that also includes mass distribution of anti-pollution masks, mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads, tree plantation, and special plans for 12 pollution hotspots in Delhi.