New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Amid the rising levels of pollution in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that they will take a decision on extending the Odd-Even vehicle scheme on November 18.
"As per weather forecast, air quality in Delhi to improve in the next 2-3 days. If the air quality doesn't improve, we will take a decision on extending Odd-Even vehicle scheme on November 18," said Kejriwal.
In an attempt to tackle pollution in the national capital, the Odd-Even scheme was implemented in Delhi on November 4 and today is its last day. The scheme is applicable from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.
This is the third time when the Odd-Even scheme has been implicated in Delhi. The first two versions of the initiative were introduced in 2016.
The Odd-Even scheme prohibits plying of private vehicles based on the last digit of their registration numbers. Vehicles with even digits are only allowed to ply on even dates, and those with odd numbers on odd dates.
The Delhi government has claimed a high percentage of compliance of the scheme by motorists in the city. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said people were "religiously" following the odd-even rule. The AAP government has also blamed the stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana as the reason behind poor air quality in the national capital, has claimed that the odd-even scheme is one of the steps responsible for respite from the crisis.
Meanwhile, the air quality on Friday remained in the 'severe' category as a thick layer of toxic smog enveloped the national capital for the fourth consecutive day. As per the offical data, the AQI in Delhi at 11.30 am was 466. The AQI in most areas in Ghaziabad and Noida also remained in the 'severe' category.
The weather experts have said that the worsening situation in Delhi has continued due to the influence of a western disturbance which has led to dense cloud over over the national capital and caused a dip in wind speed. However, wind speed is predicted to pick up on Saturday and a gradual decline in pollution is likely thereafter.