Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
5
Comments
Pollution attacks World Heritage Site in Nepal |
|---|
|
by Prayash Pathak (Chalise) | 30-07-2018 19:02
|
|
The level of pollution in Nepal is devastating. The major cities of Nepal have already been listed as one of the highly polluted cities. Kathmandu, the capital city has been reported to be the one of the most air polluted city of the world. All form of pollution are destroying major environmental sites of Nepal. The pollution reading for the town of Chitwan was 113.32 and the capital, Kathmandu, which is known for its high pollution levels, was at 109.82. This type of environmental hazards have also started to destroy major landmark sites of Nepal. And one of them is Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Lumbini is one of the UNESCO world heritage site. But recent data collected from air quality monitoring stations in five places across the country show Lumbini is highly polluted. For the month of January, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lumbini, in southwest Nepal, was measured at 173.035 micrograms per cubic metre. Another study conducted by the IUCN and Unesco found that the pollution had begun to threaten the Lumbini World Heritage site. The reports have shown that the Ashoka pillar established in 249 BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the birthplace of Buddha has been sampled with fine powser traces of gypsum, calcite, dolomite and magnesite. Most of this pollutants have been sourced back to the nearby cement factories although the government has declared the 15 km periphery around the Lumbini site as a protected site. The effects of this pollution has already been seen. The religious monks are compelled to wear air mask during their meditation.They had to cut their retreat short and go back because they could not tolerate the conditions. Health workers in the area said the conditions were getting worse.In the past 10 years the number of people with lung related diseases has gone up. So at last lets hope that the government officials become aware of this situation and work to find the source of the pollution and nullify the effects. I f not, then one of the IUCN listed world heritage site that receives 1 million tourist every year may perish soon. |
|
|
|
|
Previous : Saving Trees and Reducing Use ...
5 Comments
Hello prayash
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Green cheers
Regards
Asmita Gaire
Posted 12-05-2020 18:47
Thanks for the inspiring words.
Posted 17-08-2018 00:22
Hello Prayash, Nepal has been renowned for its bad air pollution level since last year. I don't know why but maybe it's to do with adjacent countries' factory belts and other artificial reasons. Case of Lumbini is the first time to hear about, but it is undeniable that high-altitude regions near Nepal are all getting affected badly.
Not just adapting to change individual behavioral habits, cooperation of regional government and main government must be performed to stop such a thing.
Thanks for your report!
Posted 02-08-2018 13:50
Hello Prayash
It is sad when hearing that beautiful places won't be there for us in the future because of human acts. Regulation is really in need, but as the case of Lumbini also shows a one-way declaration doesn't seem to solve the problem from the root. A cooperation between these factories and government seems to be in immediate need so that regulation could be practiced with the acceptance of the factories!
Thanks for the report :)
Posted 31-07-2018 23:47
Hi Prayash!
It's truely devastating to read up on the current status of Nepal's air quality. I also do Hope that the government or accounting state official has put up action plans to mitigate the problem hat the monks are facing and the current threat to the Lumbini World Heritage site.
I also think that since the source of the particles goes back to the factories that are in a 15 Km radius, the government should still look into the factories and have an environmental impact assessment done to make cement companies aware of the dangers they are invoking on the environment and make them liable in terms of the polluter pays principle.
Lovely report!!!!
Posted 30-07-2018 22:25