Kathamandu, 5th most polluted city in World!

Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu has ranked 5th in Pollution Index 2017 mid-year as published by the Numbeo.com recently.

African country Ghana’s capital city Accra tops the list as New Zealand’s capital city Wellington ranks as the least polluted cities among 269 cities around the globe.

Kathmandu slumps two spots down to 5th with 96.57 pollution index.

Numbeo said it included relevant data from World Health Organisation and other institutions for the ranking.

The cities were listed on the basis of air pollution and then the water pollution/accessibility followed by other pollution types.

According to the Department of Environment of Nepal, the particulate matter (PM 2.5) of Ratnapark is 107 µg/m³ marking Kathmandu as one of the unhealthy cities to live in.

PM 2.5 indicates the matter present in the air that are 2.5 microns or below. These particles include dust, coal, particles exited from power plants and home heating, car exhaust and pollen plants among others.

Kathmandu’s downfall was heralded due to the snail paced road expansion projects in the Kathmandu Valley and delay in the underground installation of Melamchi Drinking Water pipes in the city.
The government’s failure to replace the old and outdated vehicles plying on the roads of the city have also added air pollution in Kathmandu.

Civil Hospital’s physician Dr. Achyut Bikram Hamal said that there is surge in the number of respiratory related diseases in the valley due to air pollution.
“Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease, Silicosis, Skin allergy and long term exposure to dust expose to lung cancer in the long-run,” Hamal added.

He suggested frequent health check up and regular use of high quality mask would minimise exposure to harmful dust particles in the Valley.

The renewed hopes of making Kathmandu a better place to live after the local level elections was confined to the public stunt of mayor and deputy mayor brooming the streets in Kathmandu.

Newly elected Mayor and Deputy of KMC broom street in Kathmandu. Photo: RSS

The KMC needs to do more and come up with more strategies, including installation of dustbins around the city to collect disposable and non disposable products to preserve, clean and safeguard the air quality of the Kathmandu.

KMC also needs to strictly implement the government’s decision of keeping a plastic dustbin inside the vehicle to restrict the passengers from throwing garbage out of the vehicle onto the streets.

Locals and pedestrians have been hit hard along roads in Kathmandu Valley due to dust in dry season and muddy waterlogged road during monsoon.

Kathmandu denizens and visitors need to do their part to improve the air quality of the Kathmandu.