The first two days of the Aam Aadmi Party Government’s ambitious odd-even 15-day trial have seen a high level of compliance from Delhiites. However, no significant pollution drop was observed in the two days despite the fact that the scheme led to lower levels of congestion in the city during the day time.
On the other side, the scheme proved costly for many people who arrived in Delhi from far off places in their personal vehicles, for various reasons varying from health checkups, visiting relatives to New Year celebrations. They had to cough up a fine of `2,000 or to turn back from the Delhi borders and find accommodation in NCR region. While the Delhi Government infused more buses to cater to Delhiites, no such arrangements were in place on Delhi borders.
However, the level of compliance seemed quite high in the entire city between 8 am and 8 pm as very few even numbered vehicles were spotted on Friday (January 1); and similarly, very few odd numbered vehicles on Saturday (January 2). The traffic police and enforcement teams went soft on some violators and issued around 200 challans each only in two days. The real test of the scheme is, however, expected to be on Monday when people resume work after a long weekend.
Meanwhile, the main objective of the scheme to lower the levels of pollution seemed to have failed because there wasn’t any significant drop in the pollution level.
On the first day of the odd-even scheme, pollution in various areas of Capital was recorded “moderate” in early hours of the day while areas like Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Civil lines and RK Puram were still under the category of “severe” because the mass concentration of primary pollutants were above 350 which was five times higher than prescribed standards of Indian Metrological Standards (IMD).
According to the pollution meters of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), levels of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) on Saturday evening were similar to the levels of days before policy implementation.
The mass concentration of PM10 was 315µg/m3 observed in RK Puram area on the second day when private vehicles with “even” numbers were allowed on city roads while in the last week of year 2015, the concentration of similar pollutant fluctuated between 300 and 350 (µg/m3). The mass concentrations of PM2.5 saw no major changes. Against the prescribed standards of 60µg/m3, it was recorded at 166µg/m3.
A senior official of IMD, Delhi Division-Group Captain (Scientist) RK Vishav told The Pioneer that both pollution and city weather are moderate. “Due to relatively high wind speed, the SPM in city air have settled down; pollution and weather both will remain
moderate till January 4,” said the scientist.
Meanwhile, ecologists in city have said that to curb pollution, the State Government should not allow old vehicles and trucks on roads, “Odd-even formula is a good initiative by AAP Government to reduce smog in city air but it won’t reduce the number of private vehicles. The State Government should think beyond this formula,” said Gopal Krishna, Ecologist, Anti-Toxic Watch alliance (ATWA), Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has claimed that the pollution level has dropped drastically since the implementation of even-odd formula. As per its official release, level of PM10 in three sub-areas of Malviya Nagar were 177, 263 and 207 (µg/m3) while PM2.5 was 121, 135 and 149(µg/m3). (Prescribed standards for both particles are 100 and 60 (µg/m3)).
In Kasturba Nagar, concentrations of both pollutants were 309 µg/m3 and 149 µg/m3. In Seema Puri, Rohtas Nagar, Pataprganj, PM10 levels were at 237, 253 and 503 µg/m3, and PM2.5 at 133, 173 and 158µg/m3 respectively.
In New Delhi area, the concentrations of both particles were 212, 138 (µg/m3) while in Greater Kailsah area levels of particles were 374 and 217 (µg/m3).
Notably, though there was a significant decrease in congestion in the city during the day time, traffic jams were reported from parts of Delhi after 8 pm.
One of the reasons for the traffic congestion could be the postponing of trips till the restrictions get over. In such a scenario, the restriction is unlikely to serve its purpose.