KIRIT P.

MEHTA SCHOOL OF LAW

B.B.A., LL. B (HONS.)

RESEARCH PAPER
Management III
Environmental pollution and the odd-even scheme in Delhi

Submitted To:
Dr. Parveen Kaur Nagpal
School of law, NMIMS (Deemed to be university)

Submitted By:
Shivangi Mugdha
SY B.BA LL.B. (HONS.)
Roll No. – B029
Introduction
We all live on planet earth, which is the only planet known to have an environment, where air
and water are two basic things that sustain life. Without air and water, the earth would be like
the other planets – no man, no animals, no plants. The biosphere in which living beings have
their sustenance has oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon and water vapor. All these are
well-balanced to ensure and help a healthy growth of life in the animal world. This balance
does not only help the life-cycles of animals and plants, but it also creates the perennial sources
of minerals and energies without which the human civilization of to-day could not be built. It
is for this balance that the human life and other forms of existence have flourished on earth for
so many thousands of years.

Environmental pollution refers to the introduction of harmful pollutants into the environment.
These pollutants contaminate the environment. It has a hazardous effect on the natural world
and on the activities of living beings.

Pollution comes from the Latin word ‘polluere’ which means to defile. Polutus is a Latin word
which derives from lutum, which means mud. And from this we get the idea of pollution as
something soiling. Pollution is something that contaminates a given substance. Pollution can
be a gas (like CO2), a solid (such as plastic), a liquid (such as oil) or something organic like
bacteria.

Environmental pollution is the unfavourable alteration of our surroundings, wholly or largely

as a by-product of man’s actions, through direct or indirect effects of the changes in the energy
pattern, radiation levels, and chemical and physical constitution and abundance of organisms.
Environmental pollution is a global problem and is common to both developed as well as
developing countries, which attracts the attention of human beings for its severe long-term
consequences. The decline in environmental quality as a consequence of pollution is evidenced
by loss of vegetation, biological diversity, excessive amounts of harmful chemicals in the
ambient atmosphere and in food grains, and growing risks of environmental accidents and
threats to life support systems. Pollution is viewed from different angles by different people
but is commonly agreed to be the outcome of urban-industrial and technological revolution and
rapacious and speedy exploitation of natural resources, increased rate of exchange of matter
and energy, and ever-increasing industrial wastes, urban effluents, and consumer
goods. Holdgate (1979) defined environmental pollution as the introduction by man, into the
environment, of substances or energy liable to cause interference with legitimate uses of
environment. Singh (1991) has defined pollution in a very simple manner, i.e., “Disequilibrium
condition from equilibrium condition in any system.” This definition may be applied to
all types of pollution ranging from physical to economic, political, social, and religious. Over
the past couple of decades, various sources of pollution were identified that altered the
composition of water, air, and soil of the environment. A pollutant can be any chemical (toxic
metal, radionuclides, organophosphorus compounds, gases) or geochemical substance (dust,
sediment), biological organism or product, or physical substance (heat, radiation, sound wave)
that is released intentionally or inadvertently by man into the environment with actual or
potential adverse, harmful, unpleasant, or inconvenient effects. Such undesirable effects may
be direct (affecting man) or indirect, being mediated via resource organisms or climate change.

Depending on the nature of pollutants and also subsequent pollution of environmental

components, the pollution may be categorized as air pollution, water pollution, noise
pollution, thermal pollution, soil pollution and light pollution.

Out of all the all these kinds of pollution, this paper talks about air pollution with relation to
the odd-even scheme launched in Delhi by the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with the urge
of curbing the growing air pollution in the country’s capital.
Air Pollution

Air pollution is a mixture of natural and man-made substances in the air we breathe. It is
typically separated into two categories: outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution.

Outdoor air pollution involves exposures that take place outside of the built environment.
Examples include:

• Fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels (i.e. the coal and petroleum used
in energy production)
• Noxious gases (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, chemical vapours,
etc.)
• Ground-level ozone (a reactive form of oxygen and a primary component of urban
smog)
• Tobacco Smoke

Indoor air pollution involves exposures to particulates, carbon oxides, and other pollutants
carried by indoor air or dust. Examples include:

• Gases (carbon monoxide, radon, etc.)

• Household products and chemicals
• Building materials (asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, etc.)
• Outdoor indoor allergens (cockroach and mouse dropping, etc.)
• Tobacco smoke
• Mold and pollen

In some instances, outdoor air pollution can make its way indoors by way of open windows,
doors, ventilation, etc.
Major Air Pollutants
Clean, dry air consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen—78 percent and 21 percent
respectively, by volume. The remaining 1 percent is a mixture of other gases, mostly argon (0.9
percent), along with trace (very small) amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, helium,
and more. Water vapour is also a normal, though quite variable, component of the atmosphere,
normally ranging from 0.01 to 4 percent by volume; under very humid conditions the moisture
content of air may be as high as 5 percent.
The gaseous air pollutants of primary concern in urban settings include sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide; these are emitted directly into the air from fossil
fuels such as fuel oil, gasoline, and natural gas that are burned in power plants, automobiles,
and other combustion sources. Ozone (a key component of smog) is also a gaseous pollutant;
it forms in the atmosphere via complex chemical reactions occurring between nitrogen dioxide
and various volatile organic compounds (e.g., gasoline vapours).
Airborne suspensions of extremely small solid or liquid particles called “particulates” (e.g.,
soot, dust, smokes, fumes, mists), especially those less than 10 micrometres (μm; millionths of
a metre) in size, are significant air pollutants because of their very harmful effects on human
health. They are emitted by various industrial processes, coal- or oil-burning power plants,
residential heating systems, and automobiles. Lead fumes (airborne particulates less than 0.5
μm in size) are particularly toxic and are an important pollutant of many diesel fuels.
The six major air pollutants listed above have been designated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) as “criteria” pollutants—criteria meaning that the concentrations of
these pollutants in the atmosphere are useful as indicators of overall air quality. The sources,
acceptable concentrations, and effects of the criteria pollutants are summarized in the table.
Except for lead, criteria pollutants are emitted in industrialized countries at very high rates,
typically measured in millions of tons per year. All except ozone are discharged directly into
the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources. They are regulated primarily by establishing
ambient air quality standards, which are maximum acceptable concentrations of each criteria
pollutant in the atmosphere, regardless of its origin.
Air pollution in Delhi
Every year during the onset of winter Delhi's air quality begins to fall.

➢ Air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year. It is the fifth
largest killer in India.
➢ According to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO),
Delhi is the world’s most polluted city.
➢ According to the WHO, India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory
diseases and asthma. Air pollution also impacts the environment through reduced
visibility, acid rain, and formation of ozone at tropospheric level.

Reasons for Deteriorating Air Quality of Delhi

➢ Stubble Burning: National capital shares its border with the states of Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh. One of the main reasons for increasing air pollution during the month of
October-November is crop burning by the farmers in these states.

➢ Farmers burn rice stubbles in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. It is estimated that
approximately 35 million tonnes of crop are set afire by these states. The wind carries all
the pollutants and dust particles, which have got locked in the air.

➢ Vehicular Emission: Delhi has more than 9 million registered vehicles. The Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Environmental Engineering Research
Institute (NEERI) have declared vehicular emission as a major contributor to Delhi’s
increasing air pollution.

➢ Weather: During the winter season, dust particles and pollutants in the air become
unable to move. Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air, resulting
in smog.

➢ High Density: With more than 11000 people per square kilometre, Delhi is among the
most densely populated cities in the world. Over-population adds up to the various types
of pollution.

➢ Lack of Infrastructure: In India, investment in public transport and infrastructure is

low which leads to congested roads, and hence air pollution.

➢ Construction Activities and Open waste burning: Large-scale construction in Delhi-

NCR is another culprit that is increasing dust and pollution in the air. Delhi also has
 landfill sites for dumping of waste, burning of waste in these sites also contributes to air
pollution.

➢ Thermal Power Plant and Industries: Industrial pollution and garbage dumps are also
increasing air pollution and building-up smog in the air.

➢ Firecrackers: Despite the ban on cracker sales in 2017, firecrackers were a common
sight in Diwali. It is the major reason for smog in Delhi after Diwali.

➢ Diesel generators: A large number of housing societies and businesses resort to using
diesel generators as alternate for power supply during cuts. Diesel generators contribute
approximately 15 percent to the city’s air pollution.

➢ Dust Storm from Gulf countries: During the smog in the year 2017, the dust storm
from Gulf countries was also the reason which enhanced already worse condition.

Steps were taken by the government to tackle pollution

➢ To tackle Stubble burning

➢ The government is giving subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seder (THS)
which is a machine mounted on a tractor that cuts and uproots the stubble and also drill
wheat seeds.
➢ Punjab and Haryana procure stubble and straw for biofuel plants and in the waste-to-
energy power generation plants.

➢ Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):

➢ The government has implemented GRAP to tackle with the rising pollution in Capital.
It includes the measures like shutting down Badarpur Thermal Power Plant and a ban
on construction activities.

➢ Recently, the government has also launched a pollution forecast system for New Delhi.

➢ The central government released the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public
information under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control Board.

➢ AQI has been developed for eight pollutants— PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead,
nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.
➢ The April 2020 deadline for the country to implement BS-VI (Bharat Stage-VI is the Indian
equivalent to Euro VI) grade fuels was advanced for Delhi to April 1, 2018, because of the
extremely high levels of air pollution in the city.

➢ Construction of Eastern and Western Expressways for by-passing non-destined traffic to

Delhi.

➢ A ban on burning of leaves/ biomass in Delhi.

➢ Prohibition on the entry of overloaded and non-destined trucks in Delhi and imposition of
‘Green Tax’.

➢ Out of 2800 major industries, 920 industries have installed on-line continuous (24x7) air
pollution monitoring devices; others are in process of installation.
 Odd- Even scheme in Delhi

What exactly is the odd-even vehicle rule?

The AAP cabinet announced private vehicles will be allowed to run across the city based on
their registration numbers. For example, if a vehicle's registration number ends with an odd
digit, it will be allowed on the road on January 1, 2015, while that ending with an even number
can be driven on the second, and so on.
This step has been taken as a measure to bring down and control pollution in Delhi.

Where did it come from?

This system was implemented in Beijing in 2008 just before the summer Olympics. While the
rule was initially said to be temporary, it turned out to be so effective the government made it
permanent.
Similar road-rationing rules are imposed in many places around the world like Paris, Mexico
and Bogota to curb road jams and pollution.
In fact, the technique of road-rationing dates as far back as Roman age, and none other than
the Shakespearean hero Julius Caesar had enforced it. We wonder if that was why Brutus did
to Caesar what he did!

Why is it being enforced?

The Delhi High Court directed the Centre and State governments to come up with
comprehensive action plans to put a check on the capital city's "alarming" pollution rate, saying
living in Delhi is like "living in a gas chamber".
A day after this, the Kejriwal-led government declared the odd-even vehicle rule with the hope
it would lower the number of vehicles hitting the road per day, eventually bringing down the
city's air pollution rate.

Few things to know about it

1. Private vehicles with odd registration numbers were allowed on the road on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays, between 8 am and 8 pm.
2. Vehicles with even numbers were allowed to run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Nothing
was finalised about Sundays.
3. The rule was not be applicable on emergency vehicles like PCR vans, fire tenders and
ambulances, and on public transports like CNG-driven buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws.
4. Good news was for bike owners, for the government had decided to exempt two-wheelers from
this rule.
5. The system, therefore, was applicable only on private-owned four wheelers running across
Delhi, and on those coming in from other states. And that includes vehicles used by ministers
and bureaucrats of all ranks.
6. The government has added the public transport will be strengthened from the first of January.
This will include increasing the frequency of metro trains across the city.
7. Responding to the raging criticism, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said this system will
be tested for 15 days and will be scrapped if it does not work for the citizens.

Other rules being implied along side

➢ Trucks were not be allowed to run across Delhi until 11pm.
➢ All vehicles had to follow the standards of Euro VI 2017.
➢ The Delhi government had also decided to shut down the Badarpur power plant in southern
Delhi, which is one of the coal-based plants of the NTPC.

The Report Card:

In the first phase of Delhi odd even rule, 10,058 vehicles were fined and in the second phase,
8,988 vehicles were fined.
As far as pollution is concerned, a study published in the journal Environmental Science and
Policy scientists found that there was only a marginal drop in the PM2.5 levels during the first
phase of odd-even. After the first phase of odd-even, Anumita Roychowdhury of Centre for
Science and Environment (CSE) had said that a sharp drop of pollutants from the peak levels
was observed, "When vehicles slow down due to congestion they emit more. Free flow of
traffic helps prevent that."
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in a report told the National Green Tribunal had
stated, "Prima facie, there is no data to suggest that odd-even scheme has any impact on
decrease in vehicular pollution...the fluctuations in PM10 and PM2.5 is due to weather and
change in wind patterns."
Following this, the National Green Tribunal had asked the Delhi government why it was not
emphasising on the issues of pollution from dust and waste burning the way it had stressed on
the odd-even scheme.
Mr Kejriwal had also admitted that Delhi odd even rule did not lower pollution as much as
expected, however, it significantly reduced traffic congestion.
After the first phase of road rationing scheme, the government did a survey and got 4.1 lakh
responses from the public through multiple channels. 81 per cent of respondents want odd-even
back and more than 60 per cent said the formula should be made permanent, Mr Kejriwal had
said.
After the second phase, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that 99.6 per cent people
complied to the rule in the second phase and there was an increase in percentage of commuters
in metro by 2.5 to 3 per cent. However, observing that there was "more congestion" during the
second phase of odd-even, a six-member committee, headed by Special Commissioner
Transport KK Dahiya, identified major construction activities, ongoing dismantling of the BRT
corridor and negligible reduction of traffic entering from Noida and Gurgaon as key factors
behind clogged roads.
Mr Kejriwal had said that odd-even cannot be a long-term remedy and public transport system
needed to be strengthened.
In a recent press conference, the CM of Delhi has announced to start the scheme again form 4th
November 2019 and carry it on till 15th November 2019.
Data analysis
Demographics

Figure 1
Analysis: Out of the 30 online respondents 46.7% with the frequency of 14 were male and 53.3% with
the frequency of 16 were females.

Figure 2
Analysis: Out of the 30 online respondents 63.3% with the frequency of 19 out of 30 were of
the age group less than 20-20. 16.7% with the frequency of 5 out of 30 were of the age group
21-30, 31-40 age group had 13.3% of the respondent with the frequency of 4 and 2 persons that
is 6.7% of the respondent were of the age group 40-55.
Analysis of questions

Figure 3

Analysis: According to more than half of the respondent, 53.3% with the frequency of 16
automobile is the main cause of air pollution, however 26.7% of them with frequency of 8 think
that burning of coal and other fuel is the main cause of air pollution, 10% with the frequency
of 3 feel that agricultural activities like crop spraying etc are the main cause of air pollution, 1
each with the frequency of 3.3% are of the opinion that human pollution and industrial activity
are the main causes of air pollution.

Figure 4
Analysis: As clear even in the question asked earlier 90% of the respondent with the frequency
of 27 out of 30 think that yes pollutants coming out of vehicles have affected the air quality
considerably, however 1 respondent with think that no pollutants coming out of vehicles have
not affected the air quality considerably, 6.7% with the frequency of 2 say maybe it does so.

Figure 5

Analysis: When asked about the solutions to curb the rising level of pollution in NCR 60% of
the respondent with the frequency of 18 said that public transport strengthening will help, 50%
with the frequency of 15 said that Afforestation will help in doing so, 60% of them also feel
that active monitoring and reactive steps taken by concern authorities will also help in reducing
the pollution, 40% with the frequency of 12 say that restricting factories and power plants
stations in NCR will also help curb the rising level of pollution. In this question respondents
were given chance to select more than one option and such prominent percentage in every
option shows that it is not one thig that can control pollution but many things working together
in harmony.
 Figure 6
Analysis: 90% of the respondents with the frequency of 27 out of 30 were aware about the odd-
even car days scheme being implemented in Delhi, however 10% with the frequency of 3 were
not aware about the scheme. This shows that majority of the people are aware about the scheme.

Figure 7
Analysis: When asked about the impact of the odd-even rule 60% of the respondent say that it
lowers the air pollution, 70% od the respondent with the frequency of 21 says that it reduces
traffic congestion, 43.3% of the respondent say that it reduces the burden on natural resources,
however not all of them think it only has a positive impact because 33.3% of the respondent
with the frequency of 10 think that it adds inconvenience to day to day life of people. In this
question again respondents were given chance to select more than one option and the responses
show that there is no single impact of the scheme.
 Figure 8
Analysis: 36.7% of the respondent with the frequency of 11 out of 30 say that no this scheme
should not be applicable to public vehicle and two wheeler, 26.7% with the frequency of 8 say
that may it should be however 36.7% of the respondent with the frequency of 11 say that yes
the scheme should be applicable to public vehicle and two wheelers as well.

Figure 9

Analysis: The online respondents were asked about the impact of the odd-even scheme and
56.7% of the respondent say that yes the odd-even scheme has an impact, 13.3% with the
frequency of 4 say that no the scheme had no record, however 30% with the frequency of 9 are
not sure about the impact and thus say maybe.
 Figure 10

Analysis: 40% of the respondents with the frequency of 12 say that yes the scheme should be
implemented in Mumbai, 13.3% of the respondent with the frequency of 4 say that it should
not be implemented in Mumbai, however significant amount of people that is 46.7% of the
respondent are not sure about it and say that maybe it should be implemented.

Figure 11
Analysis: All the 30 respondent had different view however many of then suggested carpooling
to be an alternative, strengthening public transport was suggested by another group of people,
what the government can do is invest/promote in start-ups involved in Carpool, providing
private bus services and other such apps or services that can help per capita use of cars and
reduce the burden on fossil fuels. This along with Odd-even would be really helpful in reducing
air pollution.

Figure 12
Analysis : When asked about why such scheme is not being implemented in other parts of the
country 43.3% of the respondent with the frequency of 13 feel that authorities are not vigilant
enough, 46.7% also feel that authorities are not wanting to take responsibility of its
implementation and smooth running, 43.3% also think that the various other part of the country
has not enough resources to implement the same, 50% of them with the frequency of 15 also
feel that there is poor coordination between the state and the people in general and thus they
will not be able to implement it. 23.3% of the respondent say that lower level of pollution in
other parts of the country is the reason why this scheme is not being implemented there.
Conclusion
Air pollution is a serious issue in the country and in the world. Air pollution is a serious issue
in Delhi and the problem is increasing day by day. There is a need to curb this issue of pollution.
Odd-even scheme introduced in Delhi was a step towards doing the same however just
implementing one scheme without backing it with other plans will not help in reaching any
results. The scheme needs to backed with good public transportation facilities etc, in order to
lessen the inconvenience caused to the people and to make them believe that it is being
implemented to actually help them. Only the implementation of this scheme however will not
solve all the problems and steps towards afforestation, decrease in the number of factories
around the city and implementation of good agricultural practices etc will also help in
decreasing the amount of pollution.

References

• https://www.indiatoday.in/who-is-what-is/story/delhi-odd-even-vehicle-rule-arvind-
kejriwal-aap-government-air-pollution-276180-2015-12-08
• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/odd-even-heres-what-happened-when-delhi-
adopted-odd-even-scheme-in-the-past-1773371
• https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/air-pollution-in-delhi
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/environmental-
pollution
• https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm
• https://www.importantindia.com/16215/short-paragraph-on-air-pollution-and-its-
causes/
• https://www.importantindia.com/10612/essay-on-environmental-pollution/