Following controversial bans in India, the Delhi government in led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has proposed a new plan to curb the alarming rise in air pollution. A day after the Delhi High Court compared the city to a "gas chamber", the state government issued an order that will allow private vehicles with odd and even registration numbers on roads on alternate days, starting 1 January.
The move by the Kejriwal government is commendable in many ways, as it is aimed at lowering vehicular pollution by 50%. But Delhites do not share the same enthusiasm, as it poses many challenges for a regular commuter working in odd shifts or travelling between days.
Soon after the odd-even formula was passed, which bears "zero tolerance for violation", Twitter was stormed with fuming and comical responses. Here are a few tweets mocking the government's decision and also pointing out some valid points. Twtitterati also started a hashtag #DelhiOddEvenLogic.
@AksharPathak meanwhile Delhi cops - Sir yeh zero odd hai ki even..????
— Acrylonitrile (@realconthe3rd) December 4, 2015
Next how will we deal with water crisis? Have bath alternate days. #Oddevenformula
— Aayush Poddar (@aayushpod) December 4, 2015
I think the best idea for AAP to reduce pollution in Delhi is to do dharna for all 365 days - so that no vehicles can move in Delhi at all
— The Bad Doctor (@doctoratlarge) December 4, 2015
Monday : Odd # Tue: Even # Wed: Prime # Thurs: Multiples of 5 Fri : Multiples of 9 Sat: Multiples of 100 Sun : cycles
— Dr Happy Pumpkins (@hitlerbai) December 4, 2015
Left: My car on odd days Right: My car on even days #Delhi pic.twitter.com/SOYJxsSfMM — Shaitaan Khopdi™ (@shaitaankhopdi) December 4, 2015
#DelhiOddEvenLogic AAP is full of odd people hope they come out thrice a week
— Salil Mathur (@Saliltoday) December 5, 2015
Some Delhites were not in the mood for any amusement with #DelhiOddEvenLogic:
Let's be sad about Delhi weather sitting in AC office. Also pls keep anti-pollution tweets on agenda while buying 5th car in a family of 3. — Indian (@sonali_pinki) June 3, 2015
This scheme only opens New avenues for bribe collection by the Delhi thullas #DelhiOddEvenLogic @ArvindKejriwal
— vishal sharma (@imvishal05) December 5, 2015
Some, however, supported the new rule in favour of the long-term result.
We may ridicule #DelhiOddEvenLogic as much we want, some extreme steps need to be taken — Shambhavi Anand (@anandshambhavi) December 5, 2015
Much as I feel that odd-even number plates is tough to implement, all Delhites must support the Govt for the sake of the city's children.
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) December 4, 2015
Desperate times desperate measures: Govt to cut air pollution by 50 % by enforcing even and odd no vehicles on alternate day frm Jan 1, 2016 — Ankit Lal (@ankitlal) December 4, 2015
Bold initiative by the Delhi govt. The success of this plan banks on how the public shows their willingness. I support #DelhiOddEvenLogic
— ツSonal ♡ (@SonalMehra_) December 5, 2015
