[Free Report] Kathmandu air pollution hits record highby ALOK DHAKAL | 06-01-2021 01:13 |
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  Free report: January Kathmandu air pollution hits record high A dozens of reasons have combined to give Kathmandu valley, capital city of Nepal, the worst air quality among the cities in the world. This degradation in air quality have affected healthy people, people with respiratory complications and most importantly COVID- 19 patients. Vehicle emission, wildfires, industrial pollution and winter inversion are supposed to be the major causes of increased air pollution., Yesterday (Monday Night), the AQI (Air Quality Index) exceeded 500. This measurement was recorded by the US Embassy measuring station at Phora Durbar. It fell to 480 after 7:00 am on Tuesday. This situation of AQI is hazardous and the pollution is fifteen times higher than the WHO standard. Majority of two wheelers are experiencing burning sensation of eye. AQI might be new term for all of us. Let¡¯s see at the AQI score and what it denotes. AQI Range: Remarks 0 -50: Good 51- 100: Moderate 101 -150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 201-300: Very Unhealthy Greater than 301: Hazardous For alarming situation of pollution in Kathmandu, Cabinet decision last year adopted Ministry of environment guidelines to declare emergency if AQI exceeded 300. This means government can ban open burning, closing down factories and apply odd- even system of vehicle on roads under Kathmandu Valley¡¯s Air Pollution Management Action Plan. But till now no emergency is declared from government side. Many environmentalists have argued that the government should declare a public health emergency in the same manner New Delhi had little over a year ago.. According to public health experts, as the Kathmandu valley is surrounded by hills, it may take a couple of days for the polluted air to get improved. So, the experts have advised to stay indoors due to ¡®unhealthy air¡¯ It has been found that air pollution affects immune system thus making an individual more susceptible towards respiratory infections. In Nepal, around 65% of all death in 2019 were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) that is linked to air pollution. So, all people along with government must act together to lessen the effect of this. Hope that government takes the actions soon and collaborative action of citizens and various organisation will soon help to recover the air quality in the capital. Image Source: https://www.nepalitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/A-NASA-Worldview-satellite-image-of-Nepal-on-3-January-showing-the-spread-of-smoke-from-wildlifes-in-Kaski-Lamjung-and-Dhading..jpg |
