The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the operation of the National Green Tribunal’s 2017 order which had directed that odd-even vehicle rotation scheme be made applicable to two-wheelers also in Delhi. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Dipak Gupta was told by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ANS Nadkarni, appearing for the Delhi government that it would be impossible to accommodate people in public transport if odd-even scheme is made applicable for two-wheelers also.
Under the scheme, odd and even numbered vehicles ply on alternate days.
Nadkarni said there were around 68 lakh two-wheelers in Delhi and they were seeking exemption for two-wheelers.
He said the NGT had passed an order on December 15 last year in this regard and they were complying with all directions but want exemption for two-wheelers in the odd-even scheme.
The green tribunal had in December last year dismissed the Delhi government’s review plea seeking exemption for two-wheelers in odd-even scheme, saying such a relaxation would defeat the purpose of improving Delhi’s ambient air quality.