New Delhi: A month after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the immediate restoration of the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium following singer Diljit Dosanjh's concert, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has inspected the venue and declared it clean.  

In its report to the NGT, the DPCC highlighted that it is the organiser's responsibility to maintain cleanliness during non-sporting events at the stadium.  
The Diljit Dosanjh concert, held on 26-27 October 2024, featured several armoured decks covering the football ground to protect it from damage caused by the standing crowd, the report noted.  

Inspection findings 

An inspection conducted on 19 December 2024 revealed that the stadium premises were clean. According to the DPCC, there was "no garbage or waste" on the ground, spectator seating areas, gates, or nearby roads. Public entry and exit points were also found spotless.  

The DPCC further noted that the stadium is equipped with dustbins at regular intervals. These bins, along with the waste collection room where garbage is temporarily stored, are cleaned weekly by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) trucks, as confirmed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials.  

Background of the NGT order

The NGT's directive came after a news report claimed the concert had left the stadium grounds littered with trash, including broken glass bottles, beer cans, and plastic wrappers. Athletes were reportedly seen trying to clean the stadium, but the scale of the mess was overwhelming.  

The DPCC report outlined SAI’s terms for non-sporting events, stating that organisers are responsible for cleaning and maintaining areas booked for their events. If the venue is not restored to a clean state within 24 hours, SAI is authorised to clean it at the organiser’s expense, using funds from their security deposit.  

SAI officials clarified that only the inner ground and running tracks were closed to athletes during the event, while the outer grounds and tracks remained open, with public access restricted to certain areas.  

Diljit Dosanjh's concert drew an estimated 70,000 attendees. The running tracks reportedly had trash littered after the event, prompting the NGT to intervene and ensure proper clean-up measures were taken.  

(Agency inputs)