newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal

There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. Department of Information Registration No. Fri 3 Mar 2023 06.19 EST. Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . 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An article by three Brazilian researchers published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research aims to contribute to progress in this field by proposing a novel perspective on particle . In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit 37,399 and 9943 respectively, according to a Republica news report published on 23 November 2019. Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. Similarly, a University of Massachusetts study found that the good old surgical mask blocked 60% of 0.03 micron particles, and over 90% of 1 micron and 2.5 micron particles. The Biden Administration will make $250 million in grants available to develop strategies to cut climate pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Required fields are marked *. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. And even though the nature of pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu is varied, Nepal needs to learn to deal with its own toxic air. Haze engulfs Kathmandu valley as the air pollution increases to unhealthy levels, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. We should work for the betterment of the environment because the nature has provided a lot to us and we shouldnt be disgraceful towards it. Our environment determines our health and civilization. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poorair qualityin northern India and the Tarai was already thereducing average lifespanof tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. According to the 2017 Air Quality Management Action Plan for Kathmandu Valley, the transport sector contributes over 30 percent of total suspended particles (TSP), or 20,072 tonnes, into the air. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide and ground ozone. Department of Environment on January 5 had released a statement mentioning about the change in weather condition in the country and increasing level of pollution in Kathmandu valley. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. ? Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. We can develop our own action plan to combat air pollution and also introduce other measures like enforcing green stickers for vehicles, among many others.. 25th Jan, 2023. The average global citizen loses 2.2 years of life with today's levels of air pollution and, if nothing changes, that adds up to . With a staggering 42 percent of the population living below the poverty line and only 27 percent with improved access to sanitation, there are quite a number of issues facing Nepal. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which . People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists were in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, developing a device to measure . A paper published in the December 2000 volume of the International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences on pollution in the Narayani placed the blame squarely on the Gorkha Brewery (and a paper mill that has since closed down) for much of the pollution in Nepal's third-largest river. 18/11/2022. Electrified public transport would have been a good place to start, but 6 months after Prime Minister KP Oli launched an electric mobility action plan to turn at least 20% of public vehicles into battery-operated ones by 2020, progress has been slow. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . Department of Environment on January 5 had released a statement mentioning about the change in weather condition in the country and increasing level of pollution in Kathmandu valley. The strategy guiding the work for The Ecologist for the years 2023 to 2026 has now been published. Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . To receive the magazine, become a member now. But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, President candidate Poudel reaches RSP office seeking votes, US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion, Scathing report on Nepal's security controls, In Pictures: Air Pollution continues its grip over Kathmandu Valley, China acknowledges Sino-Indian brawl at Galwan Valley from last year for the first time, Covid vaccination drive in Nepal could be affected with Indian govt halting AstraZeneca export. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. The government, which has been engulfed in a crisis within the ruling party after Prime Minister K P Oli dissolved the Lower House and called for snap polls in April-May, seems to be too distracted to pay attention to the converging crises of Covid-19 and air pollution. I would be very thankful to you if you publish my article on your esteemed daily.Hope the government will take immediate action on this matter. Collective action from many sectors is needed to assure that everyone can breathe clean air.. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. Thefts of the pollution control devices from cars and trucks more than quadrupled from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, and jumped dramatically again in 2021 . Southwesterly winds have carried in some clouds with dust particles, mainly in the western parts of Tarai districts like Kanchanpur, Banke and Bardiya, Poudel told the Post. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. Moreover, Kathmandu is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in Asia:according to the airvisual.com, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted city. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. Quantifying the socio-economic impact of air pollution on a country will be vital in raising awareness among the public as well as policy makers and leaders, but as we have seen in Nepal it does not immediately lead to policy change. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Research on microplastic concentration in aquatic environment is attracting scientists from developing countries, but in Nepal no information regarding microplastic in freshwater system is available. Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. Local pollution in Nepali border towns with high vehicular emissions and industrial pollution could increase due to pollution coming from across the border, he said. Sign up for our WEEKLY newsletters - and never miss out on the amazing news and comment articles we publish. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. At this level of air quality, it is better that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. The transport sector further contributes 30 percent of PM10 particles, which are smaller than a grain of sand and can easily pass through the hairs in our nose, second only to the construction sector, which emits 53 percent of the total PM10. PM2.5, or Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns thick, are among the most dangerous of air particles as they can get past the nose and throat to enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. Barun Poudel, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, says that the chances of pollution travelling as far north as Kathmandu from Indian cities are slim, but that Nepali cities bordering India have already seen some impacts. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. The environment has been in a better condition. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. When you can frame the problem in terms of how many people are dying and how much productivity is lost, then it becomes much more urgent.. But so far, the government has done almost nothing to control air pollution.. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Bhushan Tuladhar, an environmentalist who closely watches levels of air pollution in the country, agrees that there is a minimal chance of pollution from Delhi and northern India reaching Kathmandu, although cities in the Tarai are already dealing with poor air quality coming from across the border. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep into the lungs, was 214 micrograms per cubic metre in the upscale area of Bhaisepati in Kathmandu on Sunday, Department of Environment data showed. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. Nepal, especially Kathmandu, in the current situation, is observing rapid urbaniz Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. Air pollution is a chronic problem in . The major reason for high ambient air pollution in Nepal is largely from traffic related with old . editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. The air in Kathmandu, already dubbed one of the most polluted cities in the world, gets worse once the winter sets in. Apex court orders acceptance of writ against PM, dubbed one of the most polluted cities in the world, air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits, 22 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2018, ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country, PM2.5 level for Kathmandu in 2018 was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3, deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley, Overextraction and shrinking open spaces cause groundwater depletion in Kathmandu Valley, As season of forest fires starts, authorities alert public to risks, History and politics of Nepals school education, Insurgency-era victims of sexual crimes still unheard. 2426/077-78 In addition, residential and commercial-scale solar electricity expenses have dropped from $0.52 to $0.16 and $0.40 to $0.11 per kilowatt-hour, respectively. The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep into the lungs, was 214 micrograms per cubic metre in the upscale area of Bhaisepati in Kathmandu on Sunday, Department of Environment data showed. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL Prof. Dr. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri a and Anil Shakyab a Disaster Preparedness Network, Kathmandu, Nepal b Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Government of Nepal ABSTRACT Environmental degradation is a very big problem in Nepal which is causing human health , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. Vehicular emissions or traffic related particulate matter has serious health effects such as increased respiratory disease, reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease etc. The rapid use of fossil fuels, increase in deforestation, unstable use of natural resources, overuse of pesticides and other chemicals, sewage and wastewater, nuclear waste, industrialization, urbanization, use of plastics and a lot more factors contribute to environmental pollution. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. About three months later, at the present time, the pollution seems to have worsened. Thanking you. This is what we learned. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. Due to the industrial revolution from the late 20th century the environment has been polluted to such an extent that now it has become a global issue. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water continues to grow sharply and could more than double by 2030, according to an assessment released on Thursday by the UN Environment Programme ( UNEP ). Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . This level is considered hazardous, and can lead to serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly, [along with] serious risk of respiratory effects in general population, according to the United States Environment Protection Agency. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. This is a very unpleasant decision. The World Health Organisation (WHO)s guidelines state that AQI should be below 35, and the concentration of particles below 2.5 microns should be below 25 g/mover a 24 hour period. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. This trend is increasing rapidly and it is estimated that urban population will reach 60 million by 2040 [ 32 ]. 2426/077-78 Benchmarks . The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. New Delhis AQI levels, which have been consistently high all winter because of crop residue burning as well as vehicular and industrial pollution, got a respite on Monday because of rainfall. "We found that the pollution exposure was really, really high, suggesting potential for substantial health impacts of air pollution in this region," says Gurung, who is now a doctoral candidate at F&ES. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. In Nepal, around 8,700 people, mainly women and children, die prematurely each year due to illnesses related to indoor air pollution from solid biomass fuel burning [8]. The US Environmental Protection Agency gave the all clear for residents to return home shortly after the February 3 derailment and controlled burn that followed. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. As reported by the World Bank, Nepal is one of the poorest nations in the world with an estimated GDP per capita of US$470. Q Air pollution is also the main environmental risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cancers and lung diseases, concludes a recent report by the NCD Alliance and the Forum of International Respiratory Scientists: The challenge is great, but the cure is straight-forward it must be met by national, regional, local and personal responses. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! The website is owned and published by The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity. Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government, which is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. According to AQ AirVisual, a Swiss group that collects air-quality data from around the world, the annual average PM2.5 level for Kathmandu in 2018 was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3), an increase from 45.9 g/m3 in 2017. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, : Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. The government slashed taxes on electric vehicles, butmuch of the supporting infrastructure required, likecharging facilities, uninterrupted electric supply and adequate parking lots, has not even been planned. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. The rapid use of fossil fuels, increase in deforestation, unstable use of natural resources, overuse of pesticides and other chemicals, sewage and wastewater, nuclear waste, industrialization, urbanization, use of plastics and a lot more factors contribute to environmental pollution. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said.

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