The Delhi government has withdrawn its petition to modify the odd-even scheme to curb the rising air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday suggested that the AAP government should take care of the logical explanations for the Odd-Even exemptions when they approach them again.

“When reports have stated that two-wheelers are more polluting than four-wheelers, why do you intend to give arbitrary exemptions? Is this a joke? What does one stand to gain from this?”, the tribunal asked the Arvind Kejriwal government.

The NGT also asked the government as to why it can’t run ladies only buses to solve the problem of transport during the Odd-Even week.

The tribunal also criticised the government by asking that why there was a need for arbitrary exemptions for two-wheelers when reports had already stated that those particular type of vehicles is more polluting than four-wheelers.

“Why do you intend to give? Is this a joke? What does one stand to gain from this? ” asked the tribunal.

“Don’t gift infected lungs to children. They have to wear masks to school. What constitutes a health emergency according to you? Measures should be applied automatically by Govt after dangerous levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 persist for more than 48 hours.”, the NGT further added.

Saying that the industries involved in essential commodities have been exempted to carry on their activity, the tribunal also directed industries whose emissions are limited in parameters be allowed to operate, subject to verification.