Govt devising action plan to reduce air pollution

Kathmandu, Mar. 22:

The government is formulating an action plan to reduce air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.

“As there is growing concern about the growing dust and smoke pollution in the Valley, the government has planned to conduct a detailed study and prepare a report on the solution by the end of this fiscal year 2016/17,” said Shankar Prasad Poudel, senior divisional chemist at the Department of Environment, while interacting with the journalists at an interaction on ‘Initiatives on air pollution control’ organized by the Nepal Forum for Environment Journalists (NEFEJ).

He also informed that with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) another such action plan would also be devised in order to contain air pollution across the country.

Southern plain, Terai, is more polluted than the capital city. According to the air pollution statistics of January this year, PM 2.5 concentration was 173 per microgram in Lumbini while it was 113 in Sauraha of Chitwan district and 109 in Ratnapark of Kathmandu.

“The situation is worst in Terai as compared to Kathmandu. But, as the capital city has more aware people including journalists and government officials, it has got more attention,” said Poudel.

“Besides the action plans, the DoE is planning to conduct sample pollution study of about 30 brick kiln in the Valley, developing a pollution monitoring mechanism and temporary solution of the dust pollution created due to pipe laying works for the Melamchi Water Supply Project,” said Poudel.

Recently, a task force has recommended 12 actions to address the dust and pollution in the capital. The report has been submitted to the National Planning Commission.

Dr. Arnico K. Panday, senior atmospheric scientist and coordinator of the Atmosphere Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), said that one third of air pollution at Lumbini had been coming from India.

“There are more than 100,000 brick kilns in South Asia and Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have more than 30,000 kiln while the northern provinces of India are being industrialized in the recent years. These are the major contributors of the pollution,” said Dr. Panday.

According to him, the capital city is ranked as the 261^st among the 3,000 cities around the world in terms of air pollution, and there is more pollution during pre-monsoon and winter seasons.

“Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley depends not only how much is emitted, but when. Winter months are most critical and monsoon least. Given observed unhealthy PM 2.5 levels, we must reduce emissions from sources like fires, vehicles, industries and diesel generators,” he said.

Rassu Manandhar of Clean Energy Nepal said that in order to improve the quality of air the country needed a clean air action plan, to improve public transportation, promote non-motorized transport, effective waste mechanism and stringent emission and fuel quality standards.