Delhi government asks schools, colleges to postpone physical sports events due to poor air quality

The Delhi government has directed all schools, colleges, universities and sports bodies in the capital to postpone physical sports competitions scheduled in November and December due to deteriorating air quality.

The order follows directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which said NCR state governments and the Delhi administration should take immediate steps to postpone such events in view of the high levels of air pollution in the region.

In a circular issued on Wednesday, the Directorate of Education and Sports stressed that all institutions under the Delhi government, including government, aided and private schools, as well as schools run by MCD, NDMC and Delhi Cantonment Board, will have to strictly follow the CAQM advisory. National federations and universities, colleges and sports associations recognized by the Union Sports Ministry have also been asked to follow the order, the order said, adding that this instruction will remain in force until further notice. Delhi breathed ‘very poor’ air on Friday as the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 370, a slight decline from 391 a day earlier, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Earlier, officials had predicted that the air quality could fall into the ‘severe’ category.

According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, between 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, between 201 and 300 ‘poor’, between 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and between 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

CPCB’s Sameer app showed that a total of 23 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while 13 recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels.