Kathmandu, April 29

Air pollution poses one of the biggest health risks, particularly in urban areas like Kathmandu, where rapid urbanisation and population growth make the situation even worse, warns a recent national report on ‘Inclusive Cities: Resilient Communities’ published by the Ministry of Urban Development.

The government has introduced some policies and programmes to improve air quality and mitigate the risks. However, the challenge lies in implementing them.

“There is a lack of strategic air quality monitoring policy, infrastructure and technology, and the concept of Air Quality Management System has not been addressed in national policies. Similarly, there is no Air Quality Information System,” it said.

“The most effective measure to improve air quality in Nepal is to reduce vehicle exhaust emission. Electric vehicles and non-motorised transport can play an important role in reducing emission loads.

Reviving the existing trolley bus system could also be one of the options apart from other measures,” the report suggested.

Electric vehicles and non-motorised transport can play an important role in reducing emission loads

The report said diesel vehicles should be avoided to the extent possible as diesel exhaust is very hazardous to human health. Diesel is the main source of fine particles. There are economic tools, such as fuel tax, to discourage the use of diesel vehicles and also to discourage car ownership.

“There should be stringent rules and regulations for management of construction materials and debris as this too has been found to be causing air pollution in urban areas,” the report read.

Relocating industries like cement factories and brick kilns to the peripheral areas and introduction of environment-friendly brick kilns can also significantly reduce the amount of pollutants in dry winter season and public awareness campaigns are required to inform the general public about the hazards of air pollution, and what the people can do to avoid or minimise air pollution, it suggested.