The odd-even scheme was implemented by Delhi government in first and second fortnights of January and April. (File photo)
Terming odd-even car rationing scheme as an "emergency" measure against air pollution, chairman of Supreme Court's Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Committee (EPPCA) Bhure Lal today said people will take it "lightly" if it is enforced permanently.
"This is an emergency measure. If emergency is there odd-even will work but if it becomes an everyday affair, people might take it lightly," he said speaking on the issue of air pollution in Delhi at PHD Chamber.
"A proper environment must be created and adequate public transport must in place so that there is no excuse for not following the odd-even scheme," he said.
The scheme was implemented by Delhi government in first and second fortnights of January and April.
Stressing that a cess should be imposed on diesel cars, Mr Lal said the top court's green panel was not in favour of a ban on them.
"We are not in favour of banning (diesel cars), we have never said that. But a cess should be imposed on diesel cars because they are polluting (the air). A running vehicle emits 40 gases in environment while diesel cars pollute more and cause cancer," he said.
He noted the slow progress in the fight against air pollution in the national capital and pointed to multiplicity of agencies involved in it.
"We are moving in the right direction but progress is not as fast or accelerated as we wanted it to be because various authorities are involved. But still we are trying to carve our way out of the problem," he said.
No hydrocarbon fuel is a clean fuel and till the time a source of pollution-free energy is discovered, the task will remain unfinished, he said.
"To my mind, it is solar energy which delivers the goods and we have to work in that direction," he said, urging the industry to find alternative ways and work on converting solar energy into "commercial" energy.
Citing figures of growing number of vehicles in Delhi, he said the city was changing into a "gas chamber".
"In 1970s, the number of automobiles in Delhi was 8 lakh. By the close of 20th century, it was 28 lakh and today it is more than 8 million. We are trying to convert Delhi into a gas chamber and will get choked," Mr Lal said.
"We need a change in lifestyle. We consider it to be a matter of prestige to travel in our own single cars, we do not like car-pooling and find it below our dignity. We use items like geysers, fridge, toasters, air conditioners which cause pollution," he said.