The document discusses Delhi's air pollution problem and the odd-even traffic policy introduced to address it. It provides background on traffic issues in ancient Rome and how Delhi's traffic now leads to alarming pollution levels. A study found vehicles account for 20% of dangerous PM2.5 pollution. In December 2015, pollution levels in Delhi surpassed safe limits. The odd-even policy restricted cars to alternate days but faced mixed reception. While it eased traffic, it also created issues that need addressing like impacts on certain groups and a lack of alternative transportation options. Participants are tasked with suggesting improvements to the policy and its implementation.
The document discusses Delhi's air pollution problem and the odd-even traffic policy introduced to address it. It provides background on traffic issues in ancient Rome and how Delhi's traffic now leads to alarming pollution levels. A study found vehicles account for 20% of dangerous PM2.5 pollution. In December 2015, pollution levels in Delhi surpassed safe limits. The odd-even policy restricted cars to alternate days but faced mixed reception. While it eased traffic, it also created issues that need addressing like impacts on certain groups and a lack of alternative transportation options. Participants are tasked with suggesting improvements to the policy and its implementation.
The document discusses Delhi's air pollution problem and the odd-even traffic policy introduced to address it. It provides background on traffic issues in ancient Rome and how Delhi's traffic now leads to alarming pollution levels. A study found vehicles account for 20% of dangerous PM2.5 pollution. In December 2015, pollution levels in Delhi surpassed safe limits. The odd-even policy restricted cars to alternate days but faced mixed reception. While it eased traffic, it also created issues that need addressing like impacts on certain groups and a lack of alternative transportation options. Participants are tasked with suggesting improvements to the policy and its implementation.
The document discusses Delhi's air pollution problem and the odd-even traffic policy introduced to address it. It provides background on traffic issues in ancient Rome and how Delhi's traffic now leads to alarming pollution levels. A study found vehicles account for 20% of dangerous PM2.5 pollution. In December 2015, pollution levels in Delhi surpassed safe limits. The odd-even policy restricted cars to alternate days but faced mixed reception. While it eased traffic, it also created issues that need addressing like impacts on certain groups and a lack of alternative transportation options. Participants are tasked with suggesting improvements to the policy and its implementation.
In ancient Rome, Julius Caesar is said to have banned wheeled traffic in the city centre during the day-time because of traffic congestion, a diktat that was also imposed by Roman emperors in later years such as in the first century AD, when Hadrian put a limit on the number of vehicles that could enter Rome. In a fascinating book titled Traffic and Congestion in the Roman Empire, Cornelis van Tilburg, a researcher of ancient infrastructure, studied the traffic system of that era: road networks; toll points; and the different measures taken to regulate traffic. Traffic congestion in cities is not, therefore, a modern malaise; it has been there since ancient times. But Julius Caesar and the emperors who succeeded him had it way easier than todays administrators; given that vehicles in their time were animal-drawn, they may have had to tackle traffic jams but not pollution.
ODD EVEN POLICY
Todays city administrators, as Delhis chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has realized, have it much tougher. Growing urban traffic results in congestion but also, as Delhiites are discovering, it leads to alarming levels of pollution, which has adverse implications on the health of citizens. The grimmer issue of air pollution has afflicted the citizens of Delhi more acutely and has managed to grab their attention due to the health hazards associated with it.
Air pollution is placed in the top ten health risks faced by human beings globally. Delhi has proudly withheld its title of being one of the most polluted cities in the world, with air pollution causing thousands of excess deaths in a year. It is a burning issue that requires immediate attention of the authorities to curb its menace and promote a proactive approach towards environmental protection. A research study by IIT KANPUR concluded with the following information; on PM10, it said, 56% of the capitals pollution emanates from road dust, 14% from construction-related activities, 10% from industry and 9% from vehicles. In the more dangerous PM2.5, vehicles account for 20% of pollution versus 38% for road dust.
23rd December 2015 saw Delhi touch the absolute extreme in pollution levels. With safe limits of PM 2.5 and PM 10 being 60 and 100 respectively, Delhi was at a toxic 534 and 853 around Anand Vihar metro station (considered to be one of the most polluted localities of the city). The critical conditions pushed the govt. to take drastic measures.
Taking a leaf out of Beijings efforts of curbing air pollution levels, the even/odd formula was introduced in the city, the results of which had mixed results. A number of people were against the idea purely because of the inconvenience it caused to office goers and other commuters, while some came out in support of Delhi governments decision. Traffic on the roads eased up substantially, as most Delhiites realized, to make a difference for the sake of the city and the future generations. STAKEHOLDERS
Key stakeholders can make or break the success of a project, which makes it imperative to identify their interests in the project. Their inadequate support can impede the working of the project and thus cooperation at all levels is required.
The Government being the largest stakeholder in the social welfare of its citizens demands much needed attention, analysis and idea generation regarding their policies and agendas. They seek to spread greater awareness and appreciation of the severity of the issue among the masses. The Corporates and industries can largely influence the working of the policies and projects through its life-cycle. Therefore, they shouldnt have conflicting interests and rather be incentive. Also, they have mandated spending on CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects and have to promote corporate image.
Lastly there are Individuals who are at the center of the deliberation. Citizens welfare is the topmost priority. They are the biggest victims of the health hazards. Moreover, they have a financial liability which needs to be addressed.
Neglect of any of these key stakeholders can affect the success of the project.
CONCERNS & ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED
Even though the policy was deemed an outright success, there were a number of concerns regarding the odd/even formula.
People capable enough of buying another car, do so, defeating the purpose of the policy. This increases the number of cars in the city which adds to the trouble.
Public transports like metro, buses and autos become the most sought after alternate means of travel and thus there is a dire need to make the public transport system more efficient and competent. There have also been reports of auto drivers harassing and charging exorbitant amounts of money 46% of vehicular pollution emanates from trucks and 33% from 2-wheelers which have been exempted from the policy. Innovative and implementable ways are required for inclusion of the exempted vehicles since they add significantly to the pollution. Delhi being metro witnesses major influxes across its borders, which is a source of income for the citys tourism industry. The odd even policy is hitting them hard and its impact needs to be counteracted. In case of emergency situations like child delivery, instant medical help, odd even policy poses a barrier. Carpooling is still being practiced passively, people tend to travel by cabs and this does little to reduce air pollution in the capital.
Channeling the money acquired from the fines levied during the pilot run to improve public transport and create alternate commuting methods.
CHALLENGES FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
Taking stock of the 15 days of the policy implementation and based on the findings, work on improvisations and ideas that can be incorporated in the policy to address issues faced by the citizens of Delhi and the government during its pilot run.
Campaigns and promotional ideas targeting the specific needs of the above mentioned stake-holders and come up with ways to promote the new and improvised policies.
Coming up with policies which complement the existing policies and facilitate its execution. Also suggest better or alternate policy improvisations for the odd-even policy to fulfill the desired objective of reducing air pollution in the capital and design a structure for its successful execution.
Finding ways to channelize the money acquired from the fines levied during the pilot run to improve public transport and create alternate commuting methods.
Participants have to submit an abstract containing their preliminary ideas suggesting
improvisations to the policy. Also assess the executive aspects of the policy keeping in view the concerned stakeholders. RULES & REGULATIONS
Teams must submit their abstracts by 4th April 2016 by mailing it to
udbhav@itbhu.ac.in
The subject of the submission mail should be ADHYAYAN_<Team Name>.
Teams must send in their submissions in the form of a PDF document with the file name as ADHYAYAN_<Team Name> (eg. ADHYAYAN_3Ps).
The submissions will be judged on the basis of analysis, creativity, feasibility and originality.
The team details (i.e. Name, Email & Contact No.) should be mentioned in the body of the mail.
While solving the case, do remember Community over Competition
