The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused each other of doing politics over ‘odd-even’ road rationing scheme and not making much efforts to combat air pollution.
Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel termed the initiative "an election stunt" by the Kejriwal Government and violated the rule by driving an SUV with an odd last digit in its registration number. His action invited a challan of Rs4,000 as violation of the odd-even rule is punishable with a fine of Rs4,000. The fine was Rs2,000 in earlier two editions of the initiative in 2016. He termed it a "symbolic protest" against the scheme.
Reacting on Goel’s action Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was pained by this behaviour.
"At a time when residents of Delhi are supporting the odd-even scheme, the BJP is opposing the efforts of people to reduce pollution. This is not right. The BJP should not do politics. They should support the people of Delhi," he told reporters at his residence before he carpooled with Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Labour Minister Gopal Rai to his office.
On his part, Goel alleged the Kejriwal government failed to do anything to curb pollution in the past five years. "I am doing this as a symbolic protest against the Kejriwal Government's failure to do anything in five years to curb pollution in Delhi. It is now enacting a drama. It's an election stunt in view of the coming assembly polls," he told reporters at his residence.
The 12-day odd-even rules kicked in on Monday, and the chief minister said he was getting reports that people were following it nearly 100 per cent. Last week, a public health emergency was declared in Delhi-NCR following an alarming level of pollution which the AAP Government said was because of stubble-burning in neighbouring states.
Reacting to Union Environment Prakash Javadekar's comment that the AAP government was busy spending on advertisements, Kejriwal said, "He (Javadekar) is doing politics. Our Government's budget for advertisements is Rs150-200 crore. Out of this, a good chunk is still unused. They spread lies."
"We have spent money on anti-dengue campaign and awareness. Should we not spread awareness? Should we allow people to die? The Delhi government's anti-dengue campaign is one of its kind.
"Delhi is the only city which has eradicated dengue through its campaign - '10 hafte 10 baje 10 minutes'," he said.
Instead of trying to discount people's efforts, the Union minister should praise them for dealing with dengue, Kejriwal said. "The entire North India is witnessing an alarming level of pollution. What is the role of Delhi in it? The Centre should sit together with the states concerned.
"Only the Centre can take steps to reduce stubble-burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Why does he (Javadekar) blame Delhi and its residents (for stubble burning?," he said.
Reacting to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's recent comment that 40,000 machines provided by the Centre to curb stubble burning cannot help 22 lakh farmers, Javadekar earlier in the day said the Centre has given Rs1,100 crores for the same but the AAP Government was busy spending money on advertisements.
"The Delhi Government is asking why we have given 40,000 machines to a population of 22 lakh farmers. I want to say that we have given Rs1,100 crores. Instead of spending Rs1,500 crore on advertisements, the Delhi Government should give this amount to farmers to address the issue of pollution," he told media persons.
Hitting back at Javadekar, Sisodia said that the entire north India would not have faced the effects of stubble-burning had the Union minister convened a coordination meeting of the States concerned three-four months back. "He is the one who did not convene the meeting. Had he done a coordination meeting of the states three-four months back, the entire north India would not have faced the effects of stubble burning and people would not have faced problems in breathing.." Sisodia told reporters.
On the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) convening a meeting on the rising level of pollution on Sunday, the deputy Chief Minister said, "The time for meeting has ended. We will certainly look into it but the Centre should also look into it."
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said "People of Delhi has come out in support of this scheme from the morning and cooperated with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's effort to bring down Delhi's pollution. At one side the weather conditions have become favourable and on the other side due to the odd-even scheme the number of cars has gone down, the traffic congestion has gone down, therefore, the Air Quality of Delhi has become better, he said, adding that earlier it was near 1000 but now it has come down to around to 250 mark.
Singh added that after coming to power the Delhi government has taken various steps to curb the air pollution. "The government has closed down to thermal power plants in Delhi and also implemented strict vigil on the construction sites to cut the dust pollution. Even this year, we held a successful laser show and community Diwali at the Connaught Place which was joined by many of the residents. They decided to cooperate with the Delhi Government and not to burn crackers," he said.
Pollution levels in Delhi peaked to a three-year high on Sunday as hundreds of distraught people took to social media to say they wanted to leave the city due to poor air quality.