Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has announced that a decision on implementing odd-even traffic restrictions and exploring artificial rain as pollution mitigation measures will be deferred for the next two to three days. As Delhi grapples with ‘very poor’ air quality post-Diwali, Rai stated that monitoring the situation is essential before taking further action.
The Minister emphasized that the next few days’ weather conditions, including wind speed and temperature, will be crucial factors in determining the effectiveness of potential measures. If the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches the ‘severe plus’ category, the government will consider implementing stricter measures like odd-even, Rai added.
Delhi witnessed a temporary respite from air pollution due to rain days before Diwali, but the air quality has once again deteriorated. Forecasts from the Early Warning System indicate that the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category until Friday.
The odd-even rule, initially scheduled for implementation on November 13, was put on hold following concerns raised by the Supreme Court about its effectiveness. The scheme restricts vehicles based on odd or even-numbered registration plates on corresponding dates.
Additionally, the Delhi government had considered artificial rain through cloud seeding technology as a pollution control measure before November 20. However, approval for this approach needs to come from the central government. The Delhi government has pledged to bear the entire cost of the artificial rain initiative.
Sources By Agencies
