What is more important, health or your car? You have to take a call: Ashish Khetan

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What about implementation?
Each of these measures will require a well-thought out, detailed, implementation plan. Take, for instance, plying of cars with even and odd numbers on alternate days. We have to speak to the Delhi Metro, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to ensure that people are not inconvenienced. We also have to talk to RWAs and communities. We have to see… if car-pooling can be encouraged by government intervention.

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How do you propose to implement this?
There can be an app for car-pooling… The DDC’s task force is already looking into it. One month is going to be spent with all stakeholders to work out a very detailed, comprehensive and feasible action plan so that each of these announcements can become a resounding success. Today, if we have taken 10 measures, we have to take 100 more measures. To pave the way for more measures, these 10 measures need to succeed.

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Will Ola, Uber and app-based cab services be affected?
No, taxis, buses or public transport will not be affected. This only applies to private transport — two wheelers and four-wheelers. We will ensure that trips by buses are increased, metro runs more trains… We will see if the 20,000 odd buses used by schools can be roped in.

Some believe these are drastic measures. What about the public response?
Firstly, the right to clean air is part of right to life. Right to pollute cannot be made inviolable, right to life is inviolable. Secondly, these are global best practices. Beijing and Mexico are doing it, other cities have done it. This is not something new. I remember when all buses were shifted from diesel to CNG, there was a lot of noise. So, there will be some noise around this. But this is in larger public interest. This is in the interest of the health of your family, your children. If 44 per cent of kids in your city have irreversible lung damage by the time they reach the age of 1, then what is more important — health or your car? People have to call it. The government is going to do its bit.

Will there be a penalty?
There will be severe penalties and fines… All departments have been told to come up with a detailed action plan.

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Will the ban be applicable to VIP movement, especially in areas such as the New Delhi Municipal Council?
Absolutely. For instance, when Beijing issues a smog alert, they take all vehicles, including the government ones, off the road. We will work that out. But if you ask me, I won’t ply my official car. Take a taxi. Car owners can afford to pay.

What about the decision to bring in Euro-VI norms?
This will be applicable both for fuel as well as cars. Old cars will have to retrofit to conform to Euro-VI norms. From January 1, 2017, car manufacturers will have to comply with Euro-VI. This is being doing in Europe. I have been told, and you need to check this, that Jamnagar refinery has been exporting Euro-VI fuel. Why not in India? What are we waiting for?

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Some recommendations of the DDC were not accepted by the government, such as smog alerts.
We need to build a consensus within the government. We will go back to the government with a refined proposal… The middle-class is already very concerned about the rise in air pollution. The poor are the most hit because they live in areas located close to arterial roads, that are not covered by urban forestry, plantation or air purifiers. We will make them aware… of how their health is being affected. They are not the ones who own cars…