The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Wednesday submitted an action plan to the National Green Tribunal, saying that the odd-even scheme will be implemented in the national capital without any exemptions.
The government also told the green tribunal that construction works in the city will be stopped once the pollution level reaches ‘severe’ category.
The development comes in view of the prolonged alarming levels of pollution in the state, which has led to criticism of the Kejriwal government.
The state government, in its action plan, also told the NGT that entry of truck in Delhi will be banned, adding that the industries causing pollution will be shut down.
Last month, the green court had given its nod to the government's decision to implement odd-even scheme for five days to check rising pollution in the city. The NGT had however disapproved the exemptions given by the government. The government had exempted two-wheelers and women from the scheme.
Raising objection on NGT’s directive of disapproving exemption, the Delhi government had then cancelled the plan to plan to implement the scheme, asserting that it will not compromise on women’s safety.
The NGT had on December 4 lashed out at the Delhi government for not filing a comprehensive action plan on ways to deal with severe air pollution in the city and slammed authorities for holding the India-Sri Lanka cricket match despite bad air quality.
On November 28, it had asked the AAP government and four neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to submit an action plan on tackling pollution. It had earlier directed the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and every state pollution control boards to file ambient air quality analysis before the tribunal on a monthly basis and also put up on their websites to enable the concerned authority to take effective steps to control air pollution.
