newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal

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. 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. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. 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 this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. The statement declared that the level of pollution in the valley is increasingly -- especially in the mornings and the evenings -- creating negative implications on people's health. South Asia News: KATHMANDU: Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home. The number of vehicles in the valley during the last two decades has increased ninefold, and reached 922,900 in total during 2015, according to the Department of Transport Management in Nepal. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. 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. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . Change to compound, We took a tour of the most amazing Chateau during our holiday, which we discovered . by accident.a. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. Ocean pollution poses a clear and present danger to human health and well-being, according to a new study from an international group of researchers. 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. Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Benchmarks . Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. Find out more. Tags: environment, pollution, Philippines Coronavirus Bulletin Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The government has declared a public health emergency, asking schools to shut down and residents to avoid outdoor physical activities, especially during morning and late evening. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. This is what we learned. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. As people fear another wave of Covid-19 a year after the government first imposed restrictions in the country, another health concern related to respiratory illnesses caused by toxins in the environment has come to the fore. We know what we're looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack. at Phora Darbar. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt byplants, particularly to those closer to the road. 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. Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. Arjun Khadka, 65, who owns a grocery store in Kathmandu, said he experienced itching and burning sensations in the eyes and nose which could be due to pollution. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration . But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Most make various performance claims based on lab tests but factors like the masks fit play important roles. Also, news from United Nations. The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. 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. 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. AQ AirVisual, on Thursday, also ranked Kathmandu the ninth most polluted city in the world, with PM2.5 levels reaching 139 g/m3the level at which the air becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups, as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index. 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 . PM2.5 levels of 403.72 g/m3 were recorded at 7pm on November 4 in Nepalgunj, the highest for the country in the past week. Your email address will not be published. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. ? SAMPLE 2. 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.. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. This is a grave threat to public health, the government should have declared an emergency and taken urgent measures to curb pollution, says environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Furthermore, the life expectancy in the Kathmandu Valley is four years less than that of other Nepalese regions. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. In countries such as China, India and Nepal, air quality may have slightly improved in recent years, but the health risks due to PM2.5 haven't changed much, he said. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. Therefore, this study investigates the presence and abundance of microplastic in lake surface water . Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. 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. Phil Murphy but which has yet to take full effect should prevent the . Spain. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. Other global AQI measurement sites like. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust,a burning issue ofthe twenty firstcentury. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. 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. But it shall be helpful only if it is implemented. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate in the city. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. And with reports of Indias north and its capital New Delhi struggling with extreme air pollution, Sunil wonders how much worse the air will get this winter. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. No: 289512/78/079 VAT No: 610271654 Editor Ashok Silwal Email nepalnamcha@gmail.com, Copyright 2023, , All Rights Reserved | Designed with. New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution. ? This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. 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. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. We've received your submission. 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. Over the weekend, pollution levels hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. It was interesting to note that despite the manic traffic and lack of infrastructure many city roads were dirt tracks, with no traffic lights evident. The Kathmandu Post : Find the latest breaking news from Nepal, opinion & analysis on Nepali politics, business, culture & arts, sports, movies, food & travel, books, education, auto & more at kathmandupost.com WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. Air pollution frequently causes osteoporosis, heart attacks, dementia and kidney diseases. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. 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. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Therefore, it is advised that everyone should avoid all outdoor exertions. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports fine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is around ten times higher than the WHO limit. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. Submissions Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at theUS Embassy measuring stationat Phora Darbar. This also adds to the risk of COVID-19, said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at a tropical and infectious disease hospital in the capital. 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 funds are the first . Find out about our mission, and our team, here. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. New road Kathmandu. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Of course, a masks effectiveness depends on how well it fits on the face, but a simple, disposable surgical mask can be more cost-effective than those fancy looking expensive ones. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. With New Delhi and parts of northern India suffering under hazardous pollution levels, Nepal needs to take heed and prepare accordingly, environmental activists say. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause many of the health conditions associated with increased vulnerability to Covid-19, such as diabetes and chronic heart and lung diseases, said the. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. Pollution means decline of the original qualities of the elements of the environment like air, water, land, etc. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. According to Tuladhar, New Delhi was able to immediately swing into action because it had an action plan to deal with the crisis. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. These are the key points that needs to be followed in order to bring a positive change in the environment. 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. To The Editor The . The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. At times, it feels like my eyes are burning, said 34-year-old Sunil. The website is owned and published by The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. According to the World Air Quality Report, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted capital city in the world, based on its average yearly PM2.5 level. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. The air pollution emergency in Kathmandu puts the elderly, those with asthma and other respiratory ailments at high risk, and would be especially dangerous to those with Covid-19. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Introduction. At a time when Kathmandus, AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning, with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 (. , , , , . Sonia Awale May 31, 2019. ? A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. Thanks for contacting us. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Human error eyed as cause of Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72 people, 2 Americans, 2 permanent US residents among 72 dead in Nepal plane crash, Father of flight attendant urged her not to work before Nepal crash left 70 dead, Nepal to send data recorder from crash to France. Espaol. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. But so far, the government has done almost nothing to control air pollution.. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. In Nepal, 35,000 people die annually due to illnesses caused by polluted air. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. The first step in controlling air pollution is with electric public transport because vehicular emissions make up the majority of pollutants in Kathmandus air, says environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. 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. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. Since PM2.5 are so small, they are also likely to hang in the air for longer, increasing the chances that they will be inhaled. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 9 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. There will be very less production of crops and the economy of the whole country can go downhill by this negative decision made by the government. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . 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. The haze has become a part of our environment, impeding our view and lowering our visibility. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . As AQ AirVisual data shows, PM2.5 levels in Kathmandu saw a continuous rise last yearfrom 65.6 g/m3 in November, followed by 91.9 g/m3 in December, 92.5g/m3 in January and peaking at 96.3 g/m3 in February. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. Air qualities in cities like Birgunj, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa get worse due to local air pollution, supported by stagnation of air in this season where there is an inversion of temperature, a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere, said Poudel, the meteorologist. The government should ban the use of old vehicles. 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 The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. This also adds to the risk of COVID-19, said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at a tropical and infectious disease hospital in the capital. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. 1. Collective action from many sectors is needed to assure that everyone can breathe clean air.. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which . 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. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi.

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