Kathmandu’s air pollution rises, ranks seventh among the world’s most polluted cities

Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley has reached an unhealthy level today. According to the Air Quality Index, the air quality in Kathmandu Valley has reached 175 AQI as of noon today. Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted city in the world. At the same time, the most polluted city in the world was Cairo, Egypt, where air pollution was measured at 273 AQI.

According to Gyan Raj Subedi, director general of the Department of Environment, dry weather, lack of wind, operation of industries and industries and rapid development works are the reasons behind the increase in air pollution. “Smoke and dust from industrial activities, cross-border pollution and pollution coming from neighbouring India have also affected the country,” he said. Subedi said that suggestions have been given to the stakeholders to emphasize on environment-friendly development.

Disaster management expert Dr Dharma Raj Upreti said an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good while 51 to 100 is considered a yellow indicator. Similarly, an AQI of 101 to 150 is considered unhealthy, which affects patients with respiratory and heart disease. An AQI of 151 to 200 is considered unhealthy for everyone, an AQI between 201 and 300 is very unhealthy and an AQI above 300 is considered very dangerous.

According to the Air Quality Management Action Plan for the Kathmandu Valley, 2076, the government has declared the AQI of more than 300 as a disaster. The action plan has provisions to stop the burning of garbage, increase the use of broomers and vacuums for street cleaning and issue public notices to children, senior citizens and the sick to take special precautions. According to the National Environment Policy-2076 BS, the government has a strategy to prepare and implement national standards on water, air, soil, sound, electromagnetic waves, radioactive radiation and hazardous chemical pollution to reduce air pollution. It also states that air, water and sound quality maps would be carried out by establishing quality monitoring centers in major cities, industrial areas and places where there is a risk of pollution.