A day after Gurgaon observed a car-free day towards making the city congestion-free , the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday asked the Haryana Government to inform it about its actual impact on the pollution level in the city to ascertain .
Gurgaon had on Tuesday observed a 'car-free day' to encourage people to use public modes of transportation, with the police making elaborate arrangements to make the initiative a success.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, took note of media reports saying levels of PM 2.5 emitted by vehicles were lower in the congested Cyber City due to the drive and directed the State Government and its pollution board to file an affidavit in this regard. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in air are high.
"The media report mentions that pollution levels have gone down due to the drive. Is it a fact or a gimmickIJ We want you to indicate whether it's factually correct. We just want to know the fact. Either way you are trapped. Indicate the actual time period and standard adopted for the test. We want to know whether regulation on cars can help or not. We want to know about this. Tell us on affidavit. Come on Tuesday," the Bench said while hearing a petition against the deteriorating air quality in the capital.
The observation comes a day after Gurgaon had observed a 'car-free day' to encourage people to use public modes of transportation, with the police making elaborate arrangements to make the initiative a success. According to media reports, there were 10,000 fewer cars on the city's roads leading to lesser congestion and lowering of pollution by almost 21 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has also planned to observe 'car-free day' on the road stretch between Red Fort and India Gate on October 22.
The green panel is deliberating on a mechanism to devise an alternative route for commercial vehicles passing through the city to decongest the roads and reduce vehicular emissions.