Delhi is the capital city of India. Around 17 million people live in the city of Delhi. It is a cosmopolitan city which has people from different parts of India. Delhi also happens to be one of the most financially prosperous cities of India.
The economic prosperity has meant greater purchasing power of people. Hence a big proportion of Delhites own cars as compared to people of other Indian cities. The emission from the cars have resulted very high levels of air pollution in Delhi. The proportion of suspended particulate matter in air of Delhi is many times more than safe levels.
The air quality of Delhi is very poor. This has serious implications on the health of people. The citizens of Delhi can contract serious diseases. Also this pollution has the potential to destroy the immune system of people, thus making them vulnerable to many diseases.
Although the city of Delhi has a good metro-rail system. The bus infrastructure is not very good. So people have to rely on self owned vehicles to commute around the city. Using cars in huge numbers has lead to rise in pollution levels. In India, diesel is far more cheaper than petrol. So a big number of cars are diesel cars and diesel cars pollute more than petrol cars.
To overcome this huge air – pollution problem, the Delhi Government decided to introduce an odd-even scheme. Under this scheme on days when the date of the month is an even number, only even numbered vehicles can ply on the roads of Delhi. On odd dates, odd number vehicles will hit the streets of Delhi.
The scheme has been introduced from January 1st. People have given a positive response but obviously there are some grievances as well. The initial dip in air pollution graph is encouraging. However the real effects of introduction of the odd-even scheme will be clear in a few days.
People are encouraged to pool cars to go to office. The cars that run on CNG are exempt from this rule since combustion of CNG does not release any suspended particulate matter. Another category of people who fall under the exempt category are those who are physically disabled and single woman driving cars. Most VVIP's fall under the exempt category. The Delhi CM himself falls under the exempt category but he is pooling car with his ministers.
Many MPs of Delhi pooled cars or used E-Rickshaws or motorcycles to go to work. Ambulances, police vehicles etc. fall under the exempt category. The AAP government has been quite successful in getting the point across to people regarding the health hazards of people. Otherwise such huge support of people to the Odd-Even formula was unprecedented.
This again shows what a honest government in power can do. Pollution in Delhi is not a new problem, however the previous governments decided to sit on the problem instead of doing something about it.
One just hopes the Odd-Even car formula and the future pollution control measures help Delhites live in a clean, clear and healthy environment.
The economic prosperity has meant greater purchasing power of people. Hence a big proportion of Delhites own cars as compared to people of other Indian cities. The emission from the cars have resulted very high levels of air pollution in Delhi. The proportion of suspended particulate matter in air of Delhi is many times more than safe levels.
The air quality of Delhi is very poor. This has serious implications on the health of people. The citizens of Delhi can contract serious diseases. Also this pollution has the potential to destroy the immune system of people, thus making them vulnerable to many diseases.
Although the city of Delhi has a good metro-rail system. The bus infrastructure is not very good. So people have to rely on self owned vehicles to commute around the city. Using cars in huge numbers has lead to rise in pollution levels. In India, diesel is far more cheaper than petrol. So a big number of cars are diesel cars and diesel cars pollute more than petrol cars.
To overcome this huge air – pollution problem, the Delhi Government decided to introduce an odd-even scheme. Under this scheme on days when the date of the month is an even number, only even numbered vehicles can ply on the roads of Delhi. On odd dates, odd number vehicles will hit the streets of Delhi.
The scheme has been introduced from January 1st. People have given a positive response but obviously there are some grievances as well. The initial dip in air pollution graph is encouraging. However the real effects of introduction of the odd-even scheme will be clear in a few days.
People are encouraged to pool cars to go to office. The cars that run on CNG are exempt from this rule since combustion of CNG does not release any suspended particulate matter. Another category of people who fall under the exempt category are those who are physically disabled and single woman driving cars. Most VVIP's fall under the exempt category. The Delhi CM himself falls under the exempt category but he is pooling car with his ministers.
Many MPs of Delhi pooled cars or used E-Rickshaws or motorcycles to go to work. Ambulances, police vehicles etc. fall under the exempt category. The AAP government has been quite successful in getting the point across to people regarding the health hazards of people. Otherwise such huge support of people to the Odd-Even formula was unprecedented.
This again shows what a honest government in power can do. Pollution in Delhi is not a new problem, however the previous governments decided to sit on the problem instead of doing something about it.
One just hopes the Odd-Even car formula and the future pollution control measures help Delhites live in a clean, clear and healthy environment.
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