VEHICLE
ROTATION SCHEME - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Odd-Even Scheme in Delhi:
What We Know So Far
What's
in the news?
●
In view of the worsening air quality, the
odd-even car rationing scheme is to be implemented in Delhi.
Air
Pollution in Delhi:
●
A study by the environment and climate
change think tank Centre for Science and Environment, (CSE) found that at their
peak in past years, farm fires
contributed to 40% of the PM 2.5 concentration in the air.
●
Several studies have suggested that the
bulk of Delhi’s air pollution is caused by local sources, and vehicles contribute up to 30% of the city’s
annual PM 2.5 concentration.
Vehicular
Pollution in Delhi:
●
Vehicles also emit other pollutants such
as NO2, and the CSE estimates that
levels of the gas this year are up by as much as 60% compared to the same time
last year.
●
Certain high traffic locations have reported levels as high as three-four
times the 24-hour standard.
●
Odd-even as a way to bring down air
pollution has been tried in some form in cities in China, Mexico, and France as well.
Odd-even
scheme:
●
Implemented by the Delhi government in
2016, the odd-even program permits
private vehicles to operate on designated days based on the last digit of their
license plate number.
●
Vehicles with even digits are allowed on
even dates, while those with odd digits are permitted on odd dates.
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Only odd-numbered cars were allowed on the
roads between 8 am and 8 pm on odd days, whereas even-numbered cars were
allowed at the same time on even days.
●
The people who violated the rule were fined Rs 2,000.
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Special arrangements like extra buses, a
bike taxi service and increase in the metro frequency were made to make the
plan successful.
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In the previous phases of the scheme, two-wheelers, women-only vehicles, CNG,
hybrid and electric vehicles, emergency vehicles and VIPs were exempted from
it.
●
The scheme was tried out twice in 2016,
and then in 2019.
●
The details of the new scheme have not
been announced yet.
Impact
of Odd-even scheme on Delhi:
●
The odd-even program, implemented by the
Delhi government in 2016, aimed to
reduce the number of vehicles on the road and subsequently lower
emissions.
●
However, experts argue that it is not a consistent solution, as the
reduction in vehicles is not always substantial, and emissions may not
necessarily decrease pollutant levels due to factors like wind speed.
●
The impact of the scheme varies across
areas, with some experiencing reductions, while others do not or only
temporarily.
●
Research is inconclusive regarding the
impact on health, and even a 20% reduction in PM2.5 levels can be harmful if
above 500.
●
Long-term exposure to pollution poses
risks to various health issues.
●
Studies
indicate a small decrease in particulate matter during the odd-even scheme,
ranging from 5 to 10%, with variations observed across different areas and
times of the day.
Studies suggest that
while the odd-even policy in Delhi may have a modest impact on decreasing vehicle traffic and emissions, it falls
short of significantly addressing pollution. To effectively tackle the issue,
there is a need for collaboration between the Delhi government and the state
governments of Haryana and Punjab to implement long-term solutions.