New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal today dismissed the AAP government’s review plea seeking an exemption for two-wheelers in the odd-even scheme, saying such a relaxation would defeat the purpose of improving Delhi’s ambient air quality.

“It is undisputed before us that there are over 60 lakh two-wheelers in Delhi. The number also consists of two-wheelers which are very old and their emissions are beyond prescribed limits,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

“It also cannot be disputed that emissions from two-wheelers are also a major source of pollution. The exemptions sought would defeat the entire purpose of improving the air quality of Delhi,” it said.

Under the scheme, odd and even numbered vehicles ply on alternate days.

The green panel also directed the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to introduce more buses in its fleet as per the Supreme Court order and strengthen the public transport system.

The bench had earlier sought a “workable solution” from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan for combating the problem of pollution.

The tribunal had on December 6 slammed the AAP government and the neighbouring states over their action plan on ways to deal with severe air pollution in the city and directed them to file a detailed document to tackle the problem.

It had observed that air pollution was never at “normal level” in the national capital and directed the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan to file the action plan afresh.