Reduction of air pollution necessary: Environment Minister Shahi

Kathmandu, Dec 12: Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi has said that air pollution has a great impact on human, biological and ecological systems and that it should be minimized and controlled.     

Inaugurating the second conference of environmental human rights defenders organized by the National Human Rights Commission here today, he expressed his commitment to effectively carry forward further policy and institutional reforms to reduce carbon emissions.     

Stating that the ministry is sensitive to reducing and controlling the impact of air pollution on the community, Minister Shahi stressed that green development and the use of electric vehicles should be increased to reduce it. He said that prosperity can be achieved by connecting forests and environment to people's income level.     

Supreme Court Justice Sapana Malla Pradhan said that right to a clean environment is a fundamental right and hence we should work for environmental justice.     

President of the Commission, Tapa Bahadur Magar, said that development and the environment should be carried out in a balanced way to benefit the citizens.(RSS)