Pollution spectre: Delhi postpones all sports events

Citing rapidly deteriorating air quality and an advisory from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Delhi government on Thursday ordered all schools, colleges, universities, civic bodies and recognised sports associations to immediately postpone physical sports competitions scheduled for November and December.

- Snehil Sinha

In a November 20 circular, the Directorate of Education and Sports directed institutions across the Capital to ensure compliance with CAQM's instructions.

CAQM, in its advisory on November 19, said NCR governments must take "immediate and appropriate action" to postpone sporting events in view of prevailing pollution trends. "Such physical sport competitions... may be postponed," the commission stated, noting that prolonged physical activity in high particulate loads poses serious health risks.