Kathmandu turns into air polluted city; serious attention needed
Kathmandu Valley, the country's capital and largest city, is again among the most polluted cities in the world. Recently, Kathmandu has been ranked first in the list of cities in the world with high air pollution. Air pollution in Kathmandu Valley has increased after the forest fires across the country for the past few days. Based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), Kathmandu recently ranked among the world's most polluted cities, recording an AQI of 200.
According to the Department of Environment, the air in various cities, including Kathmandu, has been affected by forest fires. Kathmandu's air pollution has increased even a few weeks ago, it has become even more polluted. According to disaster management experts, an AQI value of up to 50 is considered good, while 51-100 is moderate, 100150 is unhealthy, and 150200 is considered very risky. Similarly, AQI values between 201 and 300 are considered very unhealthy, while 300-400 are hazardous, and 401450 are considered very hazardous.
Kathmandu Valley's Air Quality Management Action Plan, 2076 has considered an AQI of more than 300 as a disaster. In order to prevent such disasters from happening, it is mentioned in the action plan not to litter, to increase the use of brooms and vacuums to clean the roads, and to issue public notices to children, senior citizens, and patients to take special precautions. In the National Environment Policy, 2076, it is also mentioned that national standards related to the prevention of water, air, soil, sound, electricity, magnetic waves, radioactive radiation, and dangerous chemical pollution will be prepared and implemented to reduce pollution. According to the strategy, it has been mentioned that air, water, and sound quality will be measured by establishing and operating quality measurement centers in major cities and industrial areas, which are at risk of pollution.
According to the World Bank report, 2 million people die every year from diseases caused by air pollution in South Asia. Air pollution in South Asia is dire.
9 of the 10 most polluted cities in the world were in the South Asia region, as mentioned in the World Bank's 2079 November 28 report. In the World Bank's 'Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia' study report, it is mentioned that the annual average amount of Ph 2.5 in the air is 35 micrograms per cubic meter. According to past data, the amount of dust particles in the air is higher than average in Lucknow, Kolkata, Varanasi, New Delhi, and Patna in India, Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kabul in Afghanistan, and Islamabad in Pakistan. Accordingly, the amount of PM 2.5 in the air is found to be more than 20 times higher in populated areas. Reports state that the rules made in South Asian countries for air quality are also not effectively implemented. In order to solve this problem, there is a need for regional initiatives and coordination, along with a reduction in emissions. The report states that if the policy is fully implemented, the number of dust particles in the air will decrease by only 4 percent.
The amount of dust particles in this area is projected to increase by 12 percent from 2018 to 2030. According to IQAir, which measures pollution, the air quality index of Kathmandu is 208. Chiang Mai city of Thailand with AQI of 183 is the second most polluted city in the world. IQ Air, a Swiss-based air quality technology company, collected information from various air quality monitors in the valley and concluded that Kathmandu's air quality index was 181 a few days ago, which is the highest in the world.
The Air Report parameter is based on the smallest particulate matter measured, which is often generated from vehicle emissions and other fumes and can easily be inhaled through a mask. According to experts, this time, due to the lack of rain in Kathmandu Valley, air pollution has increased. It has not rained enough in Kathmandu Valley for more than six months, this has made the air dry, and pollutants can easily cover the air', it is said that local pollutants such as harmful gases from vehicles, factories, and brick kilns in the valley are the main cause of air pollution.
Similarly, air pollution is caused by the burning of waste materials and agricultural grass, forest fires etc. The valley's unique geography--the bowl-shaped valley--also contributes to long-term pollution within the valley. This is another factor in air pollution. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills seven million people worldwide each year and that nine out of every 10 people breathe air with high levels of harmful particles. Kathmandu is dirty in many ways. The air is very polluted and dangerous. People with asthma and other lung conditions are advised to stay away. Every pharmacy in Kathmandu sells a battery of sinus medications, steroids, and other respiratory medications. Lung disease is becoming very common. Pollution is partly due to geography. Kathmandu is a bowlshaped valley at medium altitude. Pollution is difficult to reduce as the city is overcrowded, like many large cities in the third world, because the countryside has not been developed much. For many, the only way to improve their lives is to migrate to the capital or go abroad as a guest worker. The government has never been able to build a mass transit system, and the city is filled with overcrowded buses and vans that maximize profit and minimize maintenance.
Their smoke contributes to pollution. Anyone who can afford their own motorcycle, scooter, or car chooses to buy one – adding to the problem. More importantly, almost all roads in the city have been widened under the illusion that this will solve the traffic problem. The solution is driver discipline. As no project is completed on time, the road remains unpaved for years. Heavy traffic causes dust. It is made worse by monsoon rains, as the wetdry cycle creates very fine airborne particles. There are also many new roads leading to villages around the valley, which also emit dust. There is limited civic sense regarding littering, so the streets are very dirty and large piles of garbage are often found on street corners. The prevailing attitude is "as long as my house is clean, my work is fine. "A lack of effective waste disposal systems and an almost complete lack of recycling efforts exacerbate the problem. Waste is ubiquitous. Open defecation is still common along river banks, polluting the water and making the air near the river difficult to breathe. Otherwise, it could have been a really nice place. Air pollution has been increasing in the country's major cities, including the country's capital, Kathmandu, for the past few years. Because of this, the risk of various diseases and infections has also increased.
When air pollution increases, problems such as breathing difficulties, colds, and burning eyes appear when going outside. Experts say that it is mandatory to wear a mask while going out and not to go out without work.
Due to excessive use of vehicles, indiscriminate dumping of garbage, human settlements near factories, failure to replace old vehicles, use of pesticides, failure to control smog, increasing urbanization, and increase in fire incidents. Problems such as allergies, colds, respiratory infections, lung effects, eye effects, pneumonia, throat cancer, etc. may arise from the polluted air.
Special emphasis on the use of electric power and solar energy, keeping away factories and industries, making proper drainage arrangements, not burning smoky substances around human settlements, and developing systematic urbanization, in rivers, canals, river lakes, road alleys, etc. may help to reduce the air pollution level.
Air pollution has increased along with the increase in the number of fires everywhere in the case of Nepal. Due to fires and pollution, the level of air pollution is high in Kathmandu Valley and central and eastern parts of the country.
According to a study "State of Global Air-2020", it is mentioned that 42 thousand 100 people die every year due to diseases caused by air pollution in Nepal.
In order to prevent it, avoid air pollution, and stay at home as much as possible, if you have problems such as difficulty breathing, cough, chest problems, burning eyes, etc., contact the health worker and drink plenty of water according to the advice of the health worker, clean the air by planting plants, wear a quality mask when going out, avoid more crowded places.
All of us should promise to make the constitutional guarantee of living in a clean environment meaningful by improving the environment around us by making water, air, land and the interrelationship of plants, animals and humans alive.
Although Nepal's role in global environmental pollution is negligible, more motivation should be given to implementing Nepal's commitments in various international forums to reduce the impact of air, water and land pollution.
Time spent with trees is never wasted. If we do not allow the earth to provide beauty and joy, it will eventually produce no food. Conservation is a state of harmony between people and the land. Respect nature and it will shower you with purity and an abundance of greenery. Climate change could push 40 million people into poverty in South Asia alone. The government alone cannot meet the challenge of protecting our earth. There is hardly anyone who does not wonder about our planet Earth and the relationship of humans with it when they see the high mountains while landing in Kathmandu. These mountain ranges are an invaluable source of water for the 250 million people of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and an additional 1.65 billion people in the lower coastal regions.