The Delhi government will soon bring the car rationing interim scheme back in the city, in view of the rising air pollution levels. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called an emergency Cabinet meeting at his residence on Sunday afternoon to discuss the punitive measures to be taken to bring down the rising pollution levels.
Mr. Kejriwal said that the car rationing, odd-even scheme will return soon and preparations will start. "We also need to stop politicising the pollution issue. It is mainly due to crop burning in neighbouring States. But we all have to come together to fight it," he said in the press conference held soon after the Cabinet meeting.
Announcing a slew of decisions, Mr. Kejriwal said that the schools in the city will remain shut for the next three days. For the next 10 days, construction work will not be allowed in the city, use of generator sets will be banned, water will be sprinkled on the roads. Vacuum cleaning by Public Works Department (PWD) on 100-feet wide roads will be carried out.
The government will also shut the Badarpur plant and the transport office. He said that burning of leaves will not be allowed and if found, salaries of the concerned officials will be deducted. "We have sought Centre’s help. We have asked them for artificial rains through helicopter and cloud seeding," Mr. Kejriwal noted.