Why odd-even trial should last more than a week, Delhi HC asks AAP govt

The Delhi High court on Wednesday asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to explain why it was necessary to run the odd-even trail for more than a week. "What is the need to run odd-even scheme after a week?" the court asked. 

"You will have to admit that you don't have enough public transport to ferry the public," it said.

A report has also been sought from the AAP government on changes in the level of pollution in Delhi since the scheme came into effect on January.

The Delhi government told the court that the odd-even formula is working and very well received by people. It also told the court that it needs more time to collate data from different places in Delhi.

The government had on Tuesday claimed that the odd-even formula for Delhi has been successful and it has helped ion cutting down vehicular emission.

"According to the scientists of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), 80 per cent of PM2.5 air pollution is caused by vehicular traffic and reduction in its levels, even in outer areas of Delhi shows that reduction of four wheeled vehicles on roads since the New Year Day is having a positive impact," the government said in a statement.

A recent IIT Kanpur report had suggested that vehicular pollution contributes to around  25 per cent of PM2.5 concentrations during winters and it comes down to 9 per cent during the summers.