NEW DELHI, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — The local government of Delhi said on Friday that implementation of the car rationing scheme, known as the “odd-even” formula, has been postponed due to the improvement in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) following rain.
“A sharp decrease in pollution levels was witnessed and keeping this in view the government has now decided to postpone the order of implementing an odd-even formula on Nov. 13-20,” Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.
He said the Air Quality Index, which crossed 450 mark, now reached around 300 and a further improvement is being witnessed.
According to the minister, the Delhi government will only consider implementing the odd-even scheme after a review of air quality post-Diwali (Hindu festival of lights).
Rai said on Wednesday that the “odd-even” scheme will be implemented in the capital after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order.
According to the arrangement, private cars with odd registration numbers can run on odd dates, while even-numbered cars would ply on even dates.
Delhi is among the most polluted cities in the world.
Industrial activities and vehicular traffic are significant contributors to air pollution in the city, along with rampant construction. Every year ahead of winter the air quality in Delhi becomes hazardous.
Officials blame the stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana for the increasing air pollution in the capital.
