Public wrath is being expressed on the social media and the politicians have been gate-crashing on the issue of Delhi government's move to curb movement of private vehicles in the capital due to bad air quality. Sensing the anger on the streets, Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh today said this will be done on trial basis for 15 days starting January 1.

"On a trial-run basis, the government will try to see for 15 days whether it works well or not," Ashutosh said. 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a review meeting on the issue with ministers and concerned officials on December 8, a government spokesperson said. He also said the government has formed a three-member committee, to be headed by Transport Commissioner, to execute the decision.

"We have formed a three-member committee, which will be chaired by Transport Commissioner Parimal Rai. In the committee, Principal Secretary (Environment) and Divisional Commissioner will be its members.
"Besides, Delhi Traffic Police has been asked to associate the committee to execute the government's decision," a senior government official said.

In a desperate step to curb alarming air pollution, Delhi government on Friday restricted plying of private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers to alternate days from January 1 in the national capital.

The measures were announced following an emergency meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, a day after the Delhi High Court compared the city to a "gas chamber".

Chief secretary K K Sharma said the government decided to shut down the Badarpur Thermal power station and will move the National Green Tribunal to close the Dadri power plant which falls in Uttar Pradesh.

 He said the Government will carry out a massive plantation drive along all arterial roads across the city to curb spread of dust and ensure vacuum cleaning of roads by the Public Works Department from April 1. 
Attacking the AAP government, Congress described the move as "anti- people" while BJP alleged that it was the "easiest knee-jerk" reaction after High Court's "harsh" comments on pollution issue. However, the public was not that kind. On twitter, the reactions ranged from ridicule to offensive.

Centre on Friday accused the Delhi government of doing an act of "one-upmanship" by declaring that vehicles should have Euro VI emission standards from 2017 as part of its radical steps to curb pollution levels in the national capital.

Taking a swipe at Kejriwal-led AAP government, environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said such a measure can only be implemented if it does some 'jaadu' (magic) to launch Euro VI compliant vehicles by the stated date. "I think this is one-upmanship. The central government has already notified to postpone to Euro VI migration by 2021 because ultimately it is the car manufacturers who also need to be ready with the cars compliant to this norm. "...today we have vehicles complying to Euro IV or III.

You can't have it (Euro VI)...it is the national government's fuel and therefore, Delhi government does not have it's own fuel. If they have some factory and good idea to convert by some 'jaadu' to Euro VI--all the best," he said.

He, however, refrained from commenting on the larger decision of the state government that private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply only on alternate days starting January 1.

The Congress Party on Saturday said that Kejriwal has ruined the Delhi Transport system and was behaving like the Turkic conqueror Muhammad bin Tughluq, who looted and plundered many Indian kingdoms.

“Kejriwal is a very immature chief minister who doesn’t know the capacity of his public transport system. Without knowing that he is issuing a ‘Tughluq’ order which is not possible. He should see whether we have enough public transport to carry people?” Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told a news agency.

Here's how Twitter reacted to the incident:

Will @ArvindKejriwal tell us how many extra trips will #DelhiMetro run to ensure less crowding to support #DelhiOddEvenLogic?

Yeh kya pagalpan hai!! This will encourage ppl to have 2 vehicles with odd n even numbers for sure! Improve public Transport  #DelhiOddEvenLogic

#DelhiOddEvenLogic for vehicles is one of the most absurd measures I have heard in recent times. It just puts more hardship to common man.

#DelhiOddEvenLogic To address water scarcity drink water/ bathe/clean only on even odd days.

#DelhiOddEvenLogic is one complete oddity

I pay my driver 12000 pm, now he won't have work for half of the month what am I suppose to do with him ? Fire him ??#DelhiOddEvenLogic

Let's hope this odd even trick works actually well & helps to bring down pollution by some level. Hope is we live by. #DelhiOddEvenLogic

#DelhiOddEvenLogic V Good move. Badly needed.Also mandate no burning waste in Delhi. Fine those who burn garbage and leaves

#Delhioddevenlogic 5) Is it safe for working women to use public transport at night ? We all know the answer to that.

Fabulous idea this #DelhiOddEvenLogic . This will take time to seep down. But in the end, will lead to a better pollution-free Delhi. #AAP

I have a car with odd number reg plate and another with even number reg plate.. Very dumb plan by #aap . #DelhiOddEvenLogic

Two Cars or Two Number Plates. Delhi how are you planning to tackle #DelhiOddEvenLogic

Dear @ArvindKejriwal (IITian) ths nt a Engg project 2 test. Plz be an administrator & Leader. 1/2 #DelhiOddEvenLogic