Delhi government announces a new plan to curb Delhi’s air pollution in the city.
There is no doubt that the air quality of Delhi is alarmingly deadly. The air pollution in Delhi keeps on increasing many folds each year. The Delhi government took a bold step to curb the air pollution in the city. The Arvind Kejriwal government has come up with a plan which will allow odd and even numbered vehicles to run on roads on alternate days from January 1.
The plan was announced a day after when the Delhi High Court compared the city to a ‘gas chamber’.
Here are a few things that you need to know about the decision.
- The policy is similar to Beijing’s policy of odd and even numbered cars on alternate days. It will be implemented from January 1, 2016.
- However, the plan which was announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not apply to vehicles such as CNG – driven buses, taxis, and auto-rickshaws.
- The decision will also cover vehicles coming from other states.
- A similar kind of decision was taken in the Chinese capital of Beijing in 2013.
- Talking about numbers, Delhi has some 90 lakh registered vehicles and around 1500 is added each day.
- This air pollution control decision will apply to Delhi’s vehicular population of some 27 lakh cars.
- The decision will also incorporate the shutting down of the 1970 – commissioned thermal power plant at Badarpur. The reason being; the plant uses outdated equipment and often breaks down, which in turn adds significantly to the air pollution.
- Controlling the traffic isn’t the only thing; the Delhi government also plans to launch a web-based app for people so that they can report about the polluting vehicles in the capital.
- Delhi’s air quality is among the world’s poorest. According to WHO standards, Delhi’s air quality is 11 times more than its prescribed level.
