In a decisive move addressing the alarming air quality crisis in Delhi and Mumbai, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has imposed a ban on firecrackers during the ongoing World Cup matches in these two megacities.
BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, delivered this significant announcement in a statement to the Indian Express on Wednesday, underscoring the board’s unwavering commitment to environmental concerns. “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 Shah.
He went further to emphasize the board’s dedication to combating environmental issues while placing the interests of fans and stakeholders at the forefront of their decisions. Shah declared, “The Board is committed to combating environmental issues and will always place the interest of our fans and stakeholders at the forefront.”
Jay Shah acknowledged the pressing concerns about air quality in both Mumbai and New Delhi. He reiterated BCCI’s steadfast commitment to the health and safety of all those involved in the World Cup matches. Significantly, India currently maintains its position at the top of the ICC World Cup table, having triumphed in all six matches played so far. South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia closely follow, while defending champions England find themselves at the bottom of the table.
Mumbai grapples with “deteriorating” air quality
Further, in a parallel development concerning air pollution, the Bombay High Court recently expressed its deep concern about the “deteriorating” air quality index in Mumbai. The Court took suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the issue, emphasizing the gravity of the situation, as Mumbai faces a similar AQI crisis to that of Delhi.
Delhi AQI Update (November 1):
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) remained entrenched in the “very poor” category for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, with an AQI reading of 372. In various parts of Delhi, including Anand Vihar, Bawana, and Rohini, the AQI has even surpassed the “severe” category, raising alarms about the pollution situation.
