The Arvind Kejriwal government has announced that private vehicles with odd and even registration numbers will be allowed on the roads of the national capital only on alternate days starting next month, reports NDTV.


This means that from January 1, 2016, if vehicles with number plates ending with an odd number can be driven one day, only those ending with an even number can be brought out the next day. This will not apply to public vehicles. The government says it will also shut down all thermal power plants by mid December. The government will also come out with an app to catch polluters.


The government said it hoped to cut down vehicular pollution in the state by half with the measure, which is likely to be very controversial. It was announced after an emergency meeting called by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, a day after the Delhi High Court said living in Delhi was like "living in a gas chamber".


The High Court and the National Green Tribunal or NGT have repeatedly sought workable action plans to combat the menace, and the court used strong words on Thursday when it ordered the Delhi government for a "time-bound action plan' by December 21.


Plans submitted by the environment ministry and the Delhi government were "not comprehensive", the judges said, because they did not specify responsibilities and a timeline.


The National Green Tribunal had earlier ripped into the Delhi government for not acting "seriously" on the menace. It has also called for a "stay-at-home" alert for children and older people.