New Delhi: In the middle of a debate over the odd-even formula for cars in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has reached out to people in a new radio ad and promised to scrap the system if people find it hard to follow it in the first 15 days.
In the ad to be aired from tomorrow, the Chief Minister acknowledges that the ban on cars of even and odd numbers on alternate days will mean difficulties for people, but adds that he had "no choice" but to take tough steps for cleaner air.
"My ministers and I will also follow it. We will try it out for 15 days, from 1 to 15 January. If it is too much trouble, then we will stop it. For 15 days, car pool with friends and neighbours. I will also do it," Mr Kejriwal says in the radio appeal.
"I know it will be hard, but to reduce pollution, we have to suffer a little."
He has also invited suggestions from the people.
"We will do nothing against your wishes. Your safety, life, health and your convenience is our top priority," he assures.
From January 1, odd-numbered vehicles will be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and even-numbered cars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The system will not apply to public and commercial vehicles.
The Delhi government's announcement - days after the high court compared the city to a gas chamber - has drawn criticism and praise in equal measure, but many residents complain that the move has not been planned well.
Mr Kejriwal has called a meeting of all departments tomorrow to finalize a blueprint for the odd-even rule.
In another ad, Mr Kejriwal also says from April, Delhi's roads will be cleaned with vacuum cleaners.
Mr Kejriwal had earlier said that the government will run extra buses and ask the metro rail network to increase its services to cope with more people.
The World Health Organization said last year India had 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, and poor air caused hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.
Some of the country's worst polluted areas are in Delhi.
In the ad to be aired from tomorrow, the Chief Minister acknowledges that the ban on cars of even and odd numbers on alternate days will mean difficulties for people, but adds that he had "no choice" but to take tough steps for cleaner air.
"My ministers and I will also follow it. We will try it out for 15 days, from 1 to 15 January. If it is too much trouble, then we will stop it. For 15 days, car pool with friends and neighbours. I will also do it," Mr Kejriwal says in the radio appeal.
He has also invited suggestions from the people.
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From January 1, odd-numbered vehicles will be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and even-numbered cars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The system will not apply to public and commercial vehicles.
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Mr Kejriwal has called a meeting of all departments tomorrow to finalize a blueprint for the odd-even rule.
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Mr Kejriwal had earlier said that the government will run extra buses and ask the metro rail network to increase its services to cope with more people.
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Some of the country's worst polluted areas are in Delhi.
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