Kiran Bedi backs AAP-led Delhi govt's formula to curb pollution

Kiran Bedi said there's a need of a composite plan to control pollution and government and traffic police need to work together for proper implementation.

New Delhi: The Delhi government's decision to place Beijing-like vehicular restrictions from January 1 has got support from former top cop Kiran Bedi on Friday.

Bedi, who once served as deputy commissioner of police (Traffic), welcomed Aam Aadmi Party government's decision that private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply only on alternate days starting January 1, which drew mixed reactions.

Bedi, who joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this year, was quoted by news agency ANI saying that the policy is fine, but implementation and connectivity will be a challenge.

Further giving her opinion, Bedi said there's a need of a composite plan to control pollution and government and traffic police need to work together for proper implementation.

The former top cop also opined that the Delhi government should have consulted Delhi Police Commissioner and Lt Governor before taking the decision.

Heard Police Comm Del that he was not even consulted in Govt isolated decision of odd/even cars to ply. LG ought to have been consulted.. — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) December 4, 2015

The Kejriwal government announce the decision in a bid to combat rising pollution.

In an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal, a day after the High Court compared Delhi to a "gas chamber", the government also decided a series of steps to cut pollution which included shutting down of a thermal power plant and making it mandatory for vehicles to have Euro VI emission norms from 2017.

The odd/even number scheme, similar to the one in place in Chinese capital Beijing and Singapore, allows vehicles with number plates ending with an odd number to be driven one day while those ending with an even number can be plied the next day, meaning that a motorist will be able ply his vehicle only for 15 days in a month.