Pollution alarm: Delhi Govt. to review odd-even implementation on Friday

New Delhi [India], Nov. 7 (ANI): The possibility of implementing the odd-even scheme in the pollution-choked national capital for a third time will be discussed by the Delhi Government on Friday. Speaking to the media here, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that the state government will review the situation until Friday and then take a call over the scheme intended to curb traffic emissions. "We announced 10 measures yesterday to combat the problem of pollution and if needed, will announce more firm steps. Artificial rain is a possible solution, but we need the Centre's assistance in that. Right now we are trying to wash the dust off the roads," Jain said. Meanwhile, asserting that the alarming air pollution has become an epidemic in Delhi, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president K.K. Aggarwal called on Delhiites to stay indoors while adding that the particulate matter 10 (pm) and 2.5 has crossed 600 which is hazardous for the people. "We are now calling this as a pollution epidemic. Our advisory to people is to stay at home, if possible work from home and avoid stepping outside the house," he told ANI. The Centre will today convene an emergency meeting of Environment Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to tackle the alarming level of pollution in Delhi. Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave will chair the meeting to chalk out an action plan to control the rising pollution levels. Talking to media in New Delhi yesterday, Dave said that no one should indulge in a political blame-game to fight pollution in the national capital. He appealed for a united response to tackle the problem. He said that the ISRO images show that the role of neighbouring states and their contribution is only 20 percent and blaming them would not work. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has decided to close all schools for the next three days and shut down all constructions and demolitions for five days. The Delhi Government has announced several emergency measures to tackle the unprecedented level of pollution plaguing Delhi and the NCR. Water sprinkling on roads will begin tomorrow and vacuum cleaning measures to deal with dust pollution will start next week. Badarpur thermal power plant will be closed for ten days from Monday. Landfill sites fire will be extinguished and transportation of fly ash will be stopped for 10 days. City government is also planning to bring back Odd Even scheme soon and preparations are already on. The MeT department has forecast little improvement in the current weather condition for the next three days. (ANI)