SC, HC concern over kids' health; pollution watchdog halts Nov-Dec NCR sports events, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court directed the CAQM to consider postponing sports activities in Delhi-NCR schools scheduled for November and December due to poor air quality.
• The CAQM promptly directed NCR governments to postpone physical sports competitions planned for November and December.
• The Delhi High Court criticized the Delhi government for allowing sports activities during peak pollution months (November to January).
• A petition by 11 schoolchildren seeks rescheduling of the outdoor sports calendar to avoid months with severe air quality.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court acknowledged concerns that holding sports events during peak pollution exposes children to harmful air quality, likening it to putting them in a "gas chamber".
• The Delhi High Court questioned the Delhi government's commitment to addressing air pollution, suggesting a shift in the sports calendar to avoid the worst months.
• The schoolchildren's petition highlights a conflict between their right to life and their right to education, as participating in sports during high pollution periods endangers their health.
• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of emergency measures implemented based on air quality, has left construction workers without work and awaiting subsistence allowance.
• The Sports Authority of India and NCR State Pollution Control Boards are involved in discussions to safeguard children's health from air pollution during sports activities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management): An authority responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the National Capital Region.
• GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan): A set of measures to be taken based on the air quality index, ranging from moderate to emergency levels.
• AQI (Air Quality Index): A metric used to indicate air pollution levels, with values above 400 considered "severe".