KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 13
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in a bid to decrease air pollution and improve public health, has issued a notice asking people not to burn waste in the open. The directive came into effect on Friday, as per Sarita Rai, the head of environment department of the KMC.
Air pollution worsens in Kathmandu valley with the onset of winter every year. PM 2.5, which is a standard yardstick to measure particles less than 25 microgram per cubic metre, can go in the valley up to five times the standard set by the World Health Organisation. Burning of waste in the open contributes significantly to the increased PM 2.5 level, which is hazardous to health as particles so small can be easily inhaled even while wearing masks.
KMC has issued the notice as per its Environment and Natural Resources Protection Act.
Environmentalist Bhusan Tuladhar appreciated KMC for issuing the notice, adding that it remains to be seen how efficiently it is implemented by the local government. He said KMC could set an example for other municipalities by implementing the directive efficiently. "Air pollutants generated from waste burning and burning of agriculture and forest residue are significantly high in Kathmandu valley. Efficient implementation of the directive can go a long way in tackling air pollution," Tuladhar said. "I hope other 17 local government in the valley also issue such directives," he added.
Meanwhile, Changunarayan Municipality in Bhaktapur also banned burning of waste in the open on Friday, whereas Madhyapur Thimi Municipality vowed to do the same in near future.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 14, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
