The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to suspend all physical sports activities and competitions in schools during November and December. This advisory is a response to the deteriorating air quality typically observed during these months, which poses health risks to students participating in outdoor sports.
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.
