Centre, Delhi Police to support odd-even scheme: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI, December 9: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today assured full support of the Centre and Delhi Police to Delhi government on implementing its odd-even scheme for plying of private vehicles in the city from January 1, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. He said he apprised Singh of all the proposals during his nearly 40-minute-long meeting with the Home Minister, whose response was "very positive". "He said the Centre and Delhi Police will fully support the move. He flagged few concerns like exempting vehicles carrying patients or being driven by women and other emergencies. Something has to be worked out on this. There are two-three suggestions. We will consider them and which may be exempted," Kejriwal told reporters. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain were also present. Kejriwal also raised the issue of installation of CCTV cameras across Delhi to which Singh assured him of cooperation. "We will be needing the police's help in the case of CCTV cameras as well because ultimately the feed will go directly to them. The issue is in Delhi High Court now and there is needless bickering. We will together work this out," Kejriwal said. The city government on Friday, in a radical step to curb air pollution, had announced that private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply only on alternate days starting January 1. Asked whether his government was diluting the scheme in the face of criticism as it did not have a well-prepared scheme, Kejriwal said, "We had one option that we would continue doing homework for the next two years even as children would continue to die and cough. I would continue to cough as well." The second option, he said, was to take a concrete decision and work out the issues together. "Let's do it for 15 days and learn and then do it again. Kejriwal will hold a review meeting with all his Cabinet ministers and officials from transport, environment, PWD and revenue departments tomorrow. The Delhi government will also hold a meeting with the heads of schools in the national capital to see if the school buses can be also roped into the mission. Yesterday, Transport Minister Gopal Rai had said that the government will come out with a detailed blueprint by December 25 which will answer all the questions being raised by experts and public on the scheme.