Bini Dahal

Come winter season, the Kathmandu Valley witnesses two major things: a fall in mercury level and an alarming rise in air pollution. On last Monday and Tuesday, the valley's air quality was in its worst condition and the capital ranked first among the 50 most polluted cities in the globe.
According to news reports, the US Embassy's air quality monitor (AQM), which is placed at Phora Durbar, showed the PM 2.5 measurement to be 448 at noon of January 5. The air quality index (AQI) that reaches 300 or higher is a matter of serious concern as it is hazardous to human health. In such a situation, people are advised to stay at home and avoid all kinds of outdoor activities. Children, the elderly people and those with respiratory diseases need extra care. Air pollution can result in diseases such as stroke, pneumonia, asthma and lung cancer.
As the COVID-19 cases continue to occur, air pollution may help transmit the pandemic faster than ever. Studies conducted in different parts of the world have shown the relation between air pollution and the spread of the virus disease.
Various factors are responsible for the increase in the level of air pollution during the winter. Firstly, the people burn firewood to keep themselves warm. The dust and smoke produced then get released into the atmosphere. But owing to the dry season with little or no rainfall, the gloomy weather acts as a blanket and traps the pollutants. As the structure of the Kathmandu Valley is bowl-shaped, air pollution is bound to be highly concentrated and hazardous. In Nepal, more than 40,000 people die of diseases associated with air pollution every year.
The next reason could be the ongoing road construction and expansion activities in the valley. Ironically, such activities are never-ending. This is mainly due to lack of proper coordination among the different agencies and authorities like the Department of Roads, Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Telecom and municipalities. Also, a large number of vehicles running on fossil fuels are another major contributor to air pollution. An estimated 1.2 million such vehicles are in operation in the valley on a daily basis.
The intensity of problems that this particular environmental hitch can bring about is tremendous and immeasurable. The government needs to immediately come up with proper plans to curb it. The existing policies need to be reviewed and tougher rules need to be introduced to deal with this serious environmental crisis.
The policymakers must take the alarming air pollution level as a wake-up call and step up drastic measures immediately. Encouraging the people to go for electric vehicles could help bring down level of air pollution. It seems that the valley's local governments have yet to do much for effectively managing the solid waste and controlling the dust pollution.
There is no doubt that Nepal is blessed with diversity in nature. Many rural areas in the country have the ability to keep people healthy. As the overpopulation is also equally responsible for the increasing level of air and water pollution in the cities, it is time for the authorities concerned to plan for creating job and better education opportunities in the rural areas. No one wants to migrate to such cities where life is quite troublesome and challenging if such opportunities are available in the rural areas.