Valley faces rising air pollution amid extreme cold weather; ranked 5th most polluted city globally
Environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar explains that, compared to the summer season, the likelihood of air pollution is higher during the cold season.
KATHMANDU: With the extreme cold weather, air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley has increased. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the air pollution level in the Kathmandu Valley is currently at 205 AQI.
Environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar explains that, compared to the summer season, the likelihood of air pollution is higher during the cold season.
“In cold weather, the air stays at the ground level for a long time, increasing the chances of pollution. As the temperature rises during the day, the pollution spreads into the air,” he said.
Additionally, the practice of burning waste, tires, and firewood in cold weather also contributes to increasing pollution, according to him.
According to AQI data, Kathmandu Valley is ranked as the fifth most polluted city in the world today. Lahore, Pakistan, tops the list with an AQI of 341.
Kolkata, India, holds the second spot with an AQI of 248, while Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, is third with an AQI of 238. New Delhi, India, ranks fourth with an AQI of 227.
Disaster management expert Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti states that an AQI of 0 to 50 is considered good, marked by a green signal.
An AQI between 51 and 100 signals caution, while an AQI between 101 and 150 indicates respiratory issues and risks for heart patients.
According to him, an AQI between 151 and 200 is considered unhealthy, and anything above that is regarded as extremely unhealthy.
The Kathmandu Valley’s Air Quality Management Action Plan, 2076, also states that the government should treat AQI levels above 300 as a disaster.
To prevent such a disaster, the action plan suggests halting waste burning, using broom and vacuum machines for road cleaning, and issuing public notifications advising special precautions for children, the elderly, and patients.
The National Environment Policy, 2076, outlines government strategies to reduce pollution through the development and implementation of national standards for water, air, soil, noise, electromagnetic waves, and radioactive radiation, as well as hazardous chemical pollution.
The strategy includes establishing and operating quality measurement centers in major cities and industrial areas, mapping the quality of air, water, and noise pollution in these risk-prone areas.
