New Delhi to restrict vehicles as pollution spikes

New Delhi will restrict the use of private vehicles for a week to offer residents some respite from the toxic smog choking the city, authorities announced on Monday. Delhi is blanketed in smog at the winter every year, primarily blamed on stubble burning by farmers in the neighboring states.
The city is ranked as one of the most polluted on the planet, with its smog blamed for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year. Delhi's environment minister said the road-rationing scheme would be introduced for a week from next Monday.
Under the scheme, cars with odd and even number plates would be allowed to travel on alternate days during the period. The situation would be reviewed after November 20. And, he also said schools in the city will remain closed till November 11 and construction activities will be banned.