Odd Even Scheme

Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Environment impact assessment

News: The odd-even scheme for automobiles plying in Delhi has begun. Due to a steep deterioration in the air quality index or AQI in the city, the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had to declare a public health emergency as a desperate measure to contain the silent killer.

Mains Focus: Odd-Even scheme; Delhi’s air pollution - reasons

About Odd-Even scheme

Innovative idea – The odd-even scheme was first introduced three years ago. It is an out-of-the-box idea with unproven claims on containing AQI levels.
Limited to 4 wheelers – It is terrific to focus attention on air pollution caused by automobiles. It exempts two-wheelers and does not allow privately-owned hybrids and CNG vehicles.
Need for rains – Unless the rains turn up, and the cross winds regain momentum, Odd-Even is unlikely to bring down AQI below the prevailing hazardous levels.

Crisis

Annual event – For three years now, NCR has seen the pollution saga every winter.
Beyond one cause – There is a need to take the debate beyond the single causes like stubble burning.

Understanding the problem

Topography – NCR pollution problem is partly because of the nature of its topography.

It is shaped like a saucer and hence is hugely dependent on a cross breeze.
This breeze serves it for most of the year, except in winter—to keep its AQI under control.
This is the reason why the stubble burning that happens in the early part of the year does not harm Delhi as much.

Growing vehicles

Vehicular pollution has been growing very sharply.
The emissions of PM by automobiles have surged by 40% in the eight years that ended 2018.
According to the Economic Survey put out by the Delhi government, there were 10.9 million vehicles in NCR at the end of 2018.
In the absence of winds, stubble burning and bursting of crackers send the pollution problem over the tipping point.

Need for a comprehensive solution

Public transport – Metro Rail has been critical in addressing transport woes of NCR’s working population. This has to be dovetailed with a robust public bus network.
Road design – government should focus on building and maintaining good roads and implementing laws to ensure only road-worthy vehicles ply.
Need for a public movement – the residents of Delhi have to force a public debate.

Source: The Hindu

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