Highlights
- Green court slams Delhi government for holding India-Sri Lanka test match
- Deadline for the Delhi government to submit an action plan is 48 hours
- Air Quality Index in the city is in the ‘Severe’ category
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal pulled up the authorities on Monday for holding the India-Sri Lanka Test match at a Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi on Sunday despite air quality in the region being at hazardous levels. There were multiple interruptions in the third test between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday, while Sri Lankan players were forced to face masks as the air quality dipped.
On Monday, during the third day, Sri Lankan fielders came out donning the face masks and protested over the air pollution, saying the hazardous condition had made some of them vomit.
Concerned about the situation, the Green Court slammed Delhi government and said,
The situation is getting from ‘Poor’ to ‘Worst’, our children are suffering. And, despite hazardous air quality, why authorities ate holding the India-Sri Lanka Test match. Moreover, the Delhi Government has not even filed its action plan.
Air Pollution case: NGT observed that 'situation is getting from poor to worst, children are suffering and the Delhi Govt has not even filed its action plan'
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017
Directing the Delhi government and setting a strict deadline, the panel added,
Delhi Government needs to submit the action plan on steps taken to curb Air Pollution within 48 hours. States of Haryana and UP have already filed the same.
NGT directed the Delhi Government to file its action plan within 48 hours.States of Haryana and UP have already filed the same. #Pollution
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017
The pollution in Delhi rose yet again to levels recorded after the severe smog episode last month. As per the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data, air quality in most of the parts in Delhi spiked to 386 on Monday morning, putting city’s air quality in “very poor” category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday is 18 points higher than the 368 average on Sunday when the India-Sri Lanka Test match had to be halted briefly.
Also Read: Air Pollution Is Neither Delhi Specific, Nor Limited To Winter Alone, Says Chicago Based Study
According to the India Meteorological Department, the pollution levels have spiked due to calm conditions, followed by low wind speed and moisture.
Last month, when national emergency was declared in the city as Pollution levels outstripped the levels in Beijing, the city globally infamous for its air pollution, many emergency steps were taken like schools were shut down, entry of heavy vehicles and construction activities were banned in the city.
But, as soon as the levels went down from ‘Severe’ to ‘Very Poor’ levels, all the steps were withdrawn. The irony is that the authorities are yet to invest in long term solutions to deal with Air Pollution crisis, and till then there is no respite from poor air quality.
