VOA慢速英语2019 印度首都实施机动车单双号限行以期改善空气质量（在线收听）

India’s Capital Restricts Car Use to Improve Air Quality

Indian officials have banned half of all private vehicles from operating in the capital, New Delhi, because of poor air quality.

由于空气质量太差，印度官员宣布在首都新德里限行一半的机动车。

An order announced Monday creates a system based on vehicle license numbers to restrict personal car use on New Delhi's roads. Vehicles with odd number license plates are permitted to operate only on odd numbered dates, such as five, seven and nine. Those with even numbers can be driven in the city only on even dates, such as six, eight and 10.

周一宣布的命令根据机动车号牌创建了一个系统，以限制私家车在新德里上路行驶。单数号牌的车辆只能在单数日期上路行驶，例如5日、7日和9日。双数号牌只能在双数日期上路行驶，例如6日、8日和10日。

Officials estimate the new rule will keep about 1.2 million registered vehicles off the roads each day. More than 600 police teams were deployed around the capital with the power to hand out $60 fines to drivers failing to obey the law.

官员们估计这项新规定每天将使大约120万辆注册机动车停驶。600多支警察队伍部署到了首都附近，他们有权向不遵守这一法律的司机处以60美元的罚款。

Officials said the measure will remain in place until at least November 15.

官员们称这项措施将会一直持续到11月15日。

The ban does not affect New Delhi's seven million motorcycles and scooters or public transportation vehicles.

该禁令不会影响新德里的700万辆摩托车、踏板车或是公共交通工具。

The restrictions were ordered as the city government declared a public health emergency because of pollution levels.

因为污染水平，市政府宣布了公共健康紧急状态，有关方面下令出台了这项限制。

India's Central Pollution Control Board said on Sunday the average air quality index, or AQI, for New Delhi was at 494, the highest level since November 2016, when it reached 497.

印度中央污染控制委员会周日表示，新德里的平均空气质量指数为494，这是自2016年11月达到497以来的最高水平。

The AQI is considered good when the number is below 50, and "satisfactory" when it stays under 100. AQI levels between 301 and 500 are considered "hazardous" for all population groups.

平均空气质量指数低于50时被认为是“良”，低于100时被认为是“满意”。对所有人群来说，平均空气质量指数在301到500之间被认为是“危险”。

Air pollution levels across northern India reach their highest level before winter as farmers set fire to clear their fields after the harvest.

由于农民收割庄稼后放火清理农田，印度北部的空气污染在冬季之前达到最高水平。

In New Delhi, air quality is also affected by Diwali. The Hindu religious holiday is celebrated around this time of year and includes the widespread lighting of fireworks.

在新德里，排灯节也会影响空气质量。这个印度教宗教节日每年都在这个时候庆祝，其中包括大量燃放烟花。

Information released by the World Health Organization last year showed that India had the world's 10 most polluted cities.

世界卫生组织去年发布的信息显示，全球10个污染最严重的城市都在印度。

Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke about the latest air quality in a video published on Twitter.

德里首席部长阿尔文德·科基瓦尔在推特发布的视频中谈到了最近的空气质量。

"There is smoke everywhere and people, including youngsters, kids, elderly are finding it difficult to breathe," he said. "Eyes are burning. Pollution is that bad."

他说：“到处都是烟雾，包括年轻人、小孩和老人在内的人们都呼吸困难，眼睛发红。污染太严重了。”

The Indian government has blamed more than half the capital's air pollution on emissions from vehicles and industry operations. In other measures, officials ordered a temporary ban on work at building projects and schools were closed until Wednesday.

印度政府将首都一半以上的空气污染归咎于车辆尾气和工业排放。在其它措施中，官员们下令建筑项目暂停施工，学校关闭至周三。

India's Supreme Court called Monday for state governments to take steps to reduce worsening air quality that it said "could not be allowed in a civilized country."

印度最高法院周一呼吁各邦政府采取措施，改善日益恶化的空气质量。印度最高法院称，这种空气质量“在一个文明国家是不被容许的。”

The court added, "This can't go on. People aren't safe even inside their houses and rooms."

该院还说：“空气质量不能再这样继续下去。人们即使呆在家里也不安全。”