Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood announced the installation of air purifiers in 10,000 classrooms to combat pollution and ensure clean air for students, criticizing the previous government's approach.
A thick layer of toxic smog enveloped the national capital on Saturday as air quality deteriorated sharply, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke the strictest curbs under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the odd-even car rationing scheme will not be implemented from November 13 to November 20 as there has been a significant improvement in the national capital's air quality due to rain.
The Delhi government's odd-even car rationing scheme to curb air pollution on Tuesday came under scrutiny by the Supreme Court which questioned its effectiveness and termed it "all optics".
The Delhi government on Wednesday said the odd-even car rationing scheme will be implemented in the national capital after the Supreme Court reviews its effectiveness and issues an order.
With six titles -- four more than Pakistan -- and unmatched consistency, Sri Lanka has quietly been the tournament's second-most dominant force.
An improvement in the wind speed November 21 onwards might bring air pollution levels down.
With Delhi recording air pollution levels seven to eight times above safe standards on Monday, the city government announced the return of its flagship odd-even scheme after four years anticipating further deterioration of air quality post-Diwali.
Central government ministers will remain exempt from odd-even scheme while CM Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues will come under the ambit of the second phase.
Violation of the rules will attract a fine of Rs 4000, the chief minister said.
Kejriwal announced the odd-even scheme as part of the seven-point 'Parali Pradushan' action plan that also includes mass distribution of anti-pollution masks, mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on the roads, tree plantation, and special plans for 12 pollution hotspots in the city.
Delhi government's odd-even scheme was launched in the national capital on Monday with common citizens giving it a mix response.
A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta also directed the Delhi government and the Central Pollution Control Board to place before it the data of pollution in Delhi from October till November 14 this year. The bench also directed them to submit pollution data from October 1 to December 31, 2018.
The Delhi Traffic Police and other agencies have till now pulled up 1,997 vehicles for violation of the 'Odd-Even' scheme.
Unlike previous occasions, privately owned CNG vehicles will this time not be exempted.
Terming the plea as a 'publicity stunt', the Supreme Court said, "People are dying due to pollution. We are doing car-pooling and you want to challenge it."
ASG said it would be impossible to accommodate people in public transport if odd-even scheme is made applicable for two-wheelers also.
'Gandhigiri' was on display at 200 locations in the city with civil defence volunteers offering roses to those violating odd-even rules implemented for 15 days.
Travel by public transport can be made more attractive and practical for a lot more people.
Similar traffic restrictions in other cities did not see a significant improvement in air quality only because car owners begin making more trips during their unrestricted periods. The other apprehension, as seen in other cities, is that residents have bought secondhand cars, using the other number plate so that they can continue to drive to their work place, thereby defeating the very purpose of this scheme.
In the morning, Bharatiya Janata Party MPs Ranjan Bhatt and Hari Om Singh Rathore availed the 'MP special bus service' to reach Parliament.
The car rationing formula by the Delhi government officially ends on Friday as the odd-even plan has completely its 15-day trial period.
As many as 753 violators of the odd-even scheme were challaned on Monday, the 11th day of the car-rationing measure's implementation in New Delhi.
Under this rule, traders will sell vegetables on alternate days in mandis. The government has also decided to stagger the timings for the sale of vegetables and fruits in these mandis.
Women drivers and CNG-certified vehicles are likely to be given exemption from Delhi government's ambitious odd-even scheme coming into force from January 1 in New Delhi.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said the scheme was coming in the way of MPs discharging their duties and not being able to attend the meetings of Parliamentary Committees due to it.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that the government will make the announcement on Thursday after reviewing over 11 lakh responses received from the public through multiple channels.
Around 125 teams of the Transport and Revenue departments will be deployed during the 15-day plan so that the scheme could be effectively implemented.
The woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, came close to the lectern when Kejriwal was delivering his speech and showed some papers to him.
More people are expected to hit the roads after celebrating the New Year and an extended weekend.
Host of carpool mobile apps are offering shared taxi rides within cities
100,000 cabs and 45,000 autorickshaws would be plying on the Delhi-NCR routes to handle the rush.
Few vehicles are expected to be on the roads for three days beginning on Friday as it is a holiday because of Ram Navami on Friday and Saturday and Sunday follow.
The government sought exemption of women drivers from the scheme, saying it may affect the safety and security of women.
Load of particulates and nitrous oxides from cars reduced by about 40%.
Hundreds of school children on Wednesday took pledge in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to fight pollution and convince their parents, relatives and friends to adhere to the odd-even scheme to be rolled out in two days.
The Delhi government has made it clear that the experiment will not be extended beyond January 15.
In January too, BJP tried to fail odd-even by orchestrating officers' strike. People failed BJP and made odd-even success, tweeted the CM.
Only four-five lawmakers availed of the facility of DTC's "MP Special" to reach Parliament on the first day of the launch of the service.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday was spotted riding on his bicycle while heading to the AIR office in New Delhi.
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