The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued an advisory to the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, asking them to ensure no physical sports activities or sports competitions take place at schools during November and December, due to the air quality situation at that time of the year.
It had asked CAQM to issue appropriate directions to schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone sports and games competitions scheduled for the months of November and December. Pollution in Delhi spikes following the harvesting of crops in the northern plains, which often clashes with Diwali, leading to a mixture of smoke from residue burning and firecrackers hanging over the capital’s air for weeks. Meteorological conditions start to become unfavourable from October onwards, as the wind direction changes to northwesterly and local wind speeds drop along with temperature, leading to stagnation leading to a spike in pollution locally.
This year, Diwali – on November 8, is expected to coincide with the stubble burning peak, an official said.
CAQM, has referred to directions issued by the Supreme Court in the ‘MC Mehta vs Union of India’ case in which the apex court had expressed concern last year regarding the impact of severe air quality on children participating in physical sports competitions.
