Ashika’s question in Parliament: “There are new leaders and ministers who run the country, but why is the engine running the vehicle the same?”

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RJP) lawmaker Ashika Tamang has drawn the attention of the government to the increasing air pollution due to black smoke emitted from old vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, lawmaker Tamang said that although the sky is cloudy, the smoke from vehicles on the ground has suffocated the citizens.

“As white clouds of smoke billowed over the sky, we were suffocated by the smoke from the black smoke on the ground,” she said. ’

She said she had approached the Ministry of Infrastructure Development three months ago to increase the fine for vehicles emitting black smoke.

“I had approached the Ministry of Infrastructure Development with this problem three months ago. The minister had said that he would fix a fine of Rs 50,000 from Rs 500 for vehicles emitting black smoke. There is zero implementation,” she said.

She said that even though the government has brought in a new leadership, the rights of citizens to clean air are being affected due to old vehicles plying on the roads.

“Today, I want to ask a question from this House. The driver who drives us the country is a new leader and a minister, but the engine that drives the car is the same and 100 years old, how can the people breathe clean air?” she asked.