A month after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the immediate restoration of Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium following Diljit Dosanjh’s concert, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) inspected the venue and confirmed that it was clean.
The NGT’s directive prompted the inspection, following reports of litter scattered across the stadium after the event. Held on October 26-27, 2024, the concert left the stadium grounds covered in debris, including broken glass bottles, beer cans, and plastic wrappers. Despite efforts from athletes to clean the area, the scale of the mess was overwhelming.
In its December 27, 2024 report, the DPCC informed the NGT that the event organizers were responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the stadium. The concert took place inside the main stadium, with armored decks placed on the football field to protect the ground.
The inspection on December 19, 2024, confirmed that the authorities had fully restored the stadium to its original condition. The inspectors found no trash in the spectator seats, gates, or surrounding roads. They also found all public entry and exit points clean, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) regularly emptied the numerous dustbins throughout the stadium.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) ensured the stadium was cleaned post-event, in line with its policy, as highlighted in the report. SAI officials stated that the outer ground and tracks were still available for athletes during the concert, with restrictions only on the inner track and field.
The DPCC emphasized that the responsibility for cleanliness during such non-sporting events lies with the organizers, who must return the venue in a clean state.If the organizers fail to clean the venue, they will have the cleaning costs deducted from their security deposit.
Diljit Dosanjh’s concert, attended by approximately 70,000 people, saw a significant cleanup effort after the event, ensuring the stadium was ready for future use.
