Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

New Delhi: In the wake of the increase in the air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that in order to curb pollution, the Delhi government could reimplement the odd-even scheme for vehicles if the situation worsens any further.

“We all have to take collaborative steps to curb pollution,” Kejriwal said in the national capital, according to news agency ANI. The Aam Aadmi Party chief said the government is taking a number of measures to curb air pollution.

“We have started large-scale tree plantation drives... We are going to buy 3000 buses... The Delhi government has sanctioned one of the largest metro phases in NCR on Monday... We have also identified around 160 lakes which we plan to recharge. That will help the ecosystem around them... But, unless each individual plays a responsible role in reducing pollution, we can’t help much,” Kejriwal said on Tuesday. “If the need arises, we will implement the Odd-Even scheme.”

When asked if the Delhi government and the Centre are in talks to collaborate on dealing with this menace, Kejriwal said the Centre will have to take the initiative to set up a meeting with states around Delhi to help in the process.

“The central government should sit and have a word with the neighbouring states of Delhi to help curb this menace... Around November every year, farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn stubble, which increases air pollution in and around Delhi,” he said.

As per the Delhi government odd-even scheme, vehicles with odd and even number plates shall ply on roads only on designated alternate days.