Odd-even every month if second phase is a success, says Kejriwal

He also exhorted civic defense personnel to make the second stint a huge success. 

“If the second phase of odd-even becomes a success, we will make it permanent for 15 days every month,” said the Chief Minister at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium addressing the civil defense volunteers and officers to be deployed in the odd-even scheme this time. 

“The first part of the odd-even scheme was experimental only but this part is being conducted after a series of preparations. We don’t want to punish people but we just wish to change their hearts,” he added. 

Kejriwal also thanked civil defense personnel for their Gandhigiri during the odd-even scheme in the city from January 1-15. “The credit for the success of the first odd-even scheme  goes to the Delhi government’s communication with the masses and Gandhigiri of the Civil Defense personnel,” he added. The Chief Minister also mentioned that the scheme has received many accolades in the US media that received a thunderous applause. 

 “We have 500 inspectors to served challans to those who violate the odd-even rules but we also have 5,000 civil defense personnel on the roads. Their job is to prosecute violators and serve them challans but your job is Gandhigiri whereby you pursue the violators to go back,” said Kejriwal. 

The CM also said that a debate is going on regarding how much pollution was lowered during the trial of odd even scheme in January and the estimates are varying.

“Fortune magazine says it dropped by 13%, others say it lowered by 55%. Pollution did lower due to odd-even scheme.”

Referring to media reports during first phase of odd even scheme that showed “increase” in pollution due to it, he said how could pollution go up when number of vehicles on the roads reduced.

The Chief Minister also administered an oath to the school girls pledging to fight air pollution in the city. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and transport minister Gopal Rai were also present in the ceremony.

The transport minister Gopal Rai advised students to take help of ‘PoochhO Carpool’ app launched by the government.