The Supreme Court delivered a strong critique of the Delhi government’s handling of the odd-even policy, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to finalize the scheme after the court’s review. The court accused the AAP government of attempting to evade responsibility and urged them to implement the odd-even scheme, even if its impact is minimal.
The bench, comprising justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, emphasized that the odd-even scheme should be executed irrespective of its effectiveness to address pollution concerns. The court cautioned against shifting blame onto the court and urged the Delhi government to take decisive action.
The court’s remarks came after the Delhi government stated on Wednesday that the odd-even scheme would be implemented pending the Supreme Court’s assessment of its effectiveness. The court, in response, insisted that the government must act independently to tackle pollution.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the Supreme Court had questioned the efficacy of the odd-even scheme, referring to it as “optics” and expressing skepticism about its success in reducing pollution levels in the past. The court’s written order directed the Delhi government to provide a response by Friday.
In addition to addressing Delhi’s pollution concerns, the court also turned its attention to the water table in Punjab, urging the central and state governments to take steps to phase out paddy cultivation. The court expressed concern about the declining water table in Punjab and emphasized the need to prevent the region from turning into a desert.
The National Green Tribunal also criticized the Punjab Pollution Control Board for the deteriorating pollution situation in the state. The tribunal demanded improvements and questioned the effectiveness of measures taken to address the issue.
As the national capital experienced a temporary relief from severe pollution levels due to recent rains, the Supreme Court urged prompt action and discussions with farmers’ bodies to encourage the phased-out cultivation of paddy.
The court emphasized the urgency of reducing pollution levels and asserted that the well-being of residents cannot wait for delayed action.
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