Two years after the Supreme Court ordered the government to displace 20-year and older vehicles from the Kathmandu Valley, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has once again decided to displace those vehicles. The department will test the emission levels of vehicles in that bracket and stop those failing to meet the emission requirements from plying. Even those old ones meeting the emission requirements will be barred from taking to roads after two years. The decision will affect roughly 12,000 vehicles. The idea behind phasing out the old vehicles is that, they, in most cases, spew directly into air carboniferous and other exhausts that contribute to pollution to a greater extent than the new generation automobiles that are designed to produce less pollutants.

Pollution is a health hazard to Kathmandu residents. If it was pollution from brick kilns and carpet factories initially, the rising vehicle density and old vehicles have emerged as another threat. Now that the former irritants have been moved slightly out of the Valley and some even modified to emit less pollutants, vehicles continue to be a serious polluting agent. Result-oriented pragmatic methods of checking air pollution and other kinds of environmental degradation, are of course the need of the day. But the previous governments were not so serious in phasing out the old vehicles from the Kathmandu Valley, although the two stroke diesel tempos were removed as almost planned. But that alone is not sufficient. It is unlikely the decision will go well with many owners of such old and dilapidated vehicles. However unpleasant the decision might come, the residents have the right to live clean and healthy lives. But the test must be carried out on all vehicles, irrespective of their age.

Several good causes and efforts have met premature and unanticipated end in Nepal due to erratic implementation of decisions before official indifference creeps in, doing injustice to those handful who face the law for the first few days. The government and the Department, therefore, will need to engage in a sustained effort in implementing the new decision so that it prevails at all times. But the authorities also need to heed the fact that dusty roads too are a source of pollution. The health risk dust particles pose through their participation in forming the notorious smog, though less likely in these dry and windy mon-ths ahead, is no less serious. The rising cases of respiratory ailments in the Valley are an indication that firm pollution control measures are needed to be put in place, and observed. Now that the DoTM is all set to handle at least one aspect of a much bigger fight that pollution is, its success lies in sustaining the vigil.