Delhi police issue 233 challans for violations on day one of Odd-Even scheme

Vehicles ply on Delhi streets on the first day of the Odd-Even scheme designed to tackle air pollution in the capital | Rahul Pattom/ Malayala Manorama

According to the Delhi Traffic Police, 233 challans were issued on November 4 for violations of the Odd-Even schemes.

The update came after Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the people of Delhi had “owned up” to the scheme with a high level of compliance, calling the first day “highly successful”.

On Monday, November 4, only vehicles with an even number in the last digit of their license plate were allowed to ply, with the Delhi Traffic Police having deployed 200 teams to enforce compliance. 

Among the violators found on Monday was BJP MP Vijay Goel, who was issued a Rs 4,000 challan after he defied the scheme in protest. Goel told reporters, “I am doing this as a symbolic protest against the Kejriwal government's failure to do anything in five years to curb pollution in Delhi. It is now enacting a drama and election stunt in view of the coming assembly polls through odd-even scheme.” He was later given roses by an AAP minister.

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The penalty for non-compliance was doubled to Rs 4,000 in 2019.

The Delhi government has been trying to reduce the deadly levels of air pollution in the national capital through the continuation of its policy of allowing only vehicles with an odd or even license plate to ply on alternate days.

The scheme has met with opposition, most notably from The Supreme Court, which asked on Monday whether the government why the government was attempting a policy that reduced the number of passenger cars but that would lead to an increase in the greater-polluting autorickshaws and commercial vehicles.

The Delhi government’s own counsel responded saying that three-wheelers and taxis in the capital ran on CNG, which is much cleaner than petrol and diesel. The SC also asked the Delhi government if it had any evidence that the scheme was resulting in lower pollutions.

Delhi has been reeling under toxic air quality levels ever since Diwali, a time that coincided with the annual burning of crops by farmers in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, causing a toxic haze to envelope the city and surrounding regions, leading to the Air Quality Index reaching its worst levels in three years.

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