Delhi LG Najeeb Jung appears to be sceptical about odd-even scheme

NEW DELHI: Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today appeared to be sceptical about effective implementation of AAP government's ambitious odd-even scheme to cut air pollution but asserted there was a need to make sacrifices.

"I will restrict myself to the party line which is that environment is very bad, pollution is awful. We need to make sacrifices," Jung said in a lighter vein, speaking at an interactive session at FICCI.

As his comments left the audience in splits, Jung promptly said a policy on the formula is yet to come.

"In any case a policy is yet to be firmed up and this experiment is for 15 days. They (government) may announce the policy by December 25.

"Moreover, they are looking for various exemptions including for women motorists. Now what happens to the husband sitting next to the lady, I do not know," Jung said amid guffaws.

Continuing in the same vein, he added, "Will a child be allowed, if so, at what age. Will a male child be allowed or a female child be allowed?"

Jung's comments prompted FICCI president Jyotsana Suri to come out with a comparison of the medieval era Sultan of Delhi Muhammad bi Tughlaq with the present dispensation regarding the odd-even formula.

"I would like to say that Delhi has got a luck. Muhammad bin Tughlaq was then and now he has come," she said without naming anyone.

Further, she added that "our condition will be miserable in these 15 days."

Tughlaq who ruled Delhi in 14th century is considered as one of the most remarkable rulers of his time. In spite of his high qualification and knowledge, he was characterised to be suffering from hastiness and impatience that led to failure of his ambitious projects earning him a tag of an 'ill starred idealist'.