Fireworks on display after India won the match against England in the ODI World Cup 2023 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. There will be no fireworks display for the remaining matches in Delhi and Mumbai.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The BCCI has banned the display of fireworks during the remaining World Cup games in Delhi and Mumbai due to worsening air quality in the two mega cities.

Delhi has only one match left to host, the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka game on November 6, while Mumbai are scheduled to host two more league games, on November 2 and November 7, and the semifinal on November 15.

“BCCI is sensitive to environmental concerns. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won’t be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level,” said BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Board is committed to combating environmental issues and will always place the interest of our fans and stakeholders at the forefront. The BCCI acknowledges the urgent concern surrounding air quality in both Mumbai and New Delhi.

“While we strive to host the ICC World Cup in a manner befitting the celebration of cricket, we remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritising the health and safety of all our stakeholders.”

Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday with an air quality index (AQI) of 372.

The pollution situation has been alarming in Mumbai also.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the “deteriorating” air quality index in Mumbai while taking suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the issue.

New Delhi:

Delhi’s air quality improved marginally on Tuesday but remained in the ‘poor’ category, according to monitoring agencies.

The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 220, improving from 263 at 4 pm on Monday.

The 24-hour average AQI settled at 218 in neighbouring Ghaziabad, 179 in Faridabad, 158 in Gurugram, 170 in Noida and 248 in Greater Noida.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

On Sunday, Delhi’s air quality turned ‘very poor’ for the first time since May, mainly due to a drop in temperature and wind speed, which allowed pollutants to accumulate. A few incidents of firecracker burning were also reported from parts of Delhi on the occasion of Dussehra on Tuesday.

In accordance with the practice of the last three years, Delhi had last month announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and use of firecrackers within the capital city.

A public awareness campaign, ‘Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao’, will be soon reintroduced to discourage burning of firecrackers.

Unfavourable meteorological conditions and a cocktail of emissions from firecrackers and paddy straw burning, in addition to local sources of pollution, push Delhi-NCR’s air quality to hazardous levels around Diwali every year.

On Monday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the government has identified eight more pollution hotspots in addition to the existing 13 in the national capital and special teams will be deployed there to check pollution sources.

Rai said the government has also decided to use suppressant powder to prevent dust pollution in the city.

Dust suppressants could include chemical agents like calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, lignosulfonates and various polymers. These chemicals work by attracting and binding fine dust particles together, making them too heavy to become airborne.

The minister also said the government will relaunch a campaign to curb vehicular pollution on October 26, a year after Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena put it on hold, questioning its effectiveness.

Sources in the city government’s environment department said the LG’s permission will not be required for the “Red Light On Gaadi Off” campaign this year as the participants will not receive any honorarium, unlike in previous seasons.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Water is being sprayed to control air pollution at ring road, In New Delhi on October 22, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

The government has identified eight more pollution hotspots in addition to the existing 13 in the national capital, and special teams will be deployed there to check pollution sources, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on October 23.

After a meeting with 28 departments to ensure the effective implementation of pollution mitigation measures in the capital, Mr. Rai said the government has also decided to use dust suppressant powder to prevent dust pollution in the city.

Delhi’s air quality turned “very poor” on October 22 for the first time since May, mainly due to a drop in temperature and wind speed, which allowed pollutants to accumulate.

“In addition to the 13 existing air pollution hotspots in Delhi, we are focusing on eight places where the AQI has exceeded the 300-mark. These locations include Shadipur, ITO, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Sonia Vihar, Dhyan Chand Stadium, and Moti Bagh,” the Minister told a press conference.

He added that special teams will be deployed at the eight places to identify pollution sources and take corrective measures in collaboration with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Mr. Rai also mentioned that District Collectors have been instructed to conduct field visits on October 25 and ensure the strict implementation of pollution mitigation measures.

“Directions have also been issued to use dust suppressant powder in anti-smog guns to prevent dust pollution. The anti-dust campaign will be strengthened, and more field visits will be conducted,” he said.

New Delhi:

Delhi, which is among the world’s most polluted cities, kickstarted its action plan to combat air pollution today just hours after the air quality in the national capital plunged to the ‘poor’ category. Some parts of Delhi also recorded an AQI of above 300, which is categorised as ‘severe’.

The first stage of the Centre’s graded response action plan (GRAP) to check air pollution in Delhi during the winter came into effect today. ‘Visibly polluting’ vehicles will now attract a heavy fine, while trucks not destined for the national capital will be diverted through the eastern and western peripherals.

Stage 1 mandates the suspension of work at private construction and demolition projects with a plot size equal to or exceeding 500 sqm that is not registered on the state government’s portal for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures. Anti-smog guns will be used at construction and demolition sites.

Authorities will also enforce a complete ban on the use of coal and firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants, and open eateries.

Ban on ‘burning activities’ at landfill sites is also part of stage 1.

Delhi in the last 24 hours recorded an AQI of 212, which is considered ‘Poor’.

Every year, the national capital battles eye-stinging smog and severely toxic air during the winters. This is caused majorly by crop residue burning in neighbouring states and emissions from firecrackers during Diwali worsening the situation.

For years, hospitals in Delhi have been teeming with people suffering from cough, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, and even asthma attacks during winter. While doctors advise people to wear a mask to guard against the pollution, authorities have been trying to find ways to be better prepared for the situation.

Delhi has banned the production, storage, sale, and bursting of firecrackers this Diwali. Those caught violating the ban would be fined and jailed for six months.