Kathmandu monitors its air quality with new sensor technology.
Overall, the decline in air quality is a growing concern in Nepal, especially in urban population centres. Many factors influence the air people breathe: a growing population, the seemingly unstoppable expansion of motorised traffic, local industry and the compounded usage of household apparatus, like (central) heating and air conditioners, to name just a few.
Health issues
Poor air quality is a significant public health issue that causes respiratory and other problems. Hospitals often see a spike in respiratory patients, which is highest during the winter. However, in Nepal, the problem persists year round.
Doctors warn that air pollution can lead to short- and long-term health issues. In the short term, people may suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, skin allergies, stroke, and heart problems. Long-term exposure can result in severe conditions such as lung and intestinal cancer, kidney disease, heart complications, and high blood pressure.
According to the World Health Organization, over 90 per cent of deaths linked to air pollution occur in low and middle-income countries.
Measurement and management
The national government operates 27 real-time air quality monitoring stations in different parts of the country. These stations measure ambient dust and provide real-time data every minute. However, Kathmandu prepares to monitor the city’s air quality independently, using 17 portable sensors. A denser measurement setup over a much smaller space should provide better handles for damage control.
The Partnership for Healthy Cities, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is a global network of 74 cities, including Kathmandu, that provides these sensors. In this context, urban governments have committed to utilise proven interventions to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Chronic lung diseases belong to this group. Kathmandu chose to focus on its (alarmingly bad) air quality.
A paradigm shift
Rabinman Shrestha, chief of the city’s environment department, announced that the newly acquired sensors will be calibrated with existing ground stations to ensure accuracy. The low-cost portable sensors can be set up at various locations across the city and provide comprehensive air quality data. They are solar-powered and do not need Wi-Fi. Officials claim they will bring about a paradigm shift in supplemental air monitoring.
Meanwhile, the central government has problems providing data on air quality. The last report, published in 2022, is far from complete. Since 16 stations were out of order, the results of just 11 stations could be analysed. The score in Kathmandu was even worse: only one of five stations yielded results.
This is no good, as Kathmandu’s air quality reached a concerning level of around 413 this year and was on the list of the top ten most polluted cities globally for several weeks. Nepal’s air quality reaches hazardous levels several times a year, and the capital city often becomes the world’s most polluted metropolis. This makes proper air monitoring essential.
Some other initiatives are taken as a part of a broader effort by the KMC to tackle pollution levels.
KMC’s Initiative to Curb Vehicle Emissions
In response to the worsening air quality in the Kathmandu Valley, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is preparing to implement stricter vehicle emission testing. The city office, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, the Department of Transport Management, and the Department of Environment, has acquired a smoke meter—a portable device for testing vehicle emissions—to conduct random tests on the road.
Legal Framework for Pollution Control
“Vehicle emission testing is primarily the responsibility of federal government agencies, but the constitution empowers local governments to take measures to reduce pollution,” said Sarita Rai, Chief of the Environment Department. She also highlighted that the KMC has developed pollution control guidelines in line with the KMC Environment and Natural Resources Protection Act of 2021. Emission testing will begin once these guidelines are published in the Metropolis gazette.
Targeting Non-Compliant Vehicles with Random Emission Tests
The first phase will focus on randomly testing petrol and diesel vehicles operating within the city. Motorcycles are also included in the plan. Notably, emission tests will target vehicles that have already passed the Department of Transport Management’s pollution testing and received green stickers.
Concerns Over Green Stickers and Maintenance Practices
Officials have observed that many vehicles with these stickers still emit black smoke due to inadequate maintenance or untimely servicing. “Many automobile owners only service their vehicles ahead of the annual pollution test,” an unnamed Environment Department official stated.
The amount of fines for violating emission standards is yet to be determined, pending consultations with stakeholders.
According to the World Health Organization, over 90 per cent of deaths linked to air pollution occur in low and middle-income countries
Toxic air
Poor air quality is a significant public health issue that causes respiratory and other problems. Hospitals often see a spike in patients with respiratory issues, which are highest during the winter and changing seasons around the globe. However, in Nepal, the problem persists year-round.
Doctors warn that air pollution can lead to short- and long-term health issues. In the short term, people may suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, skin allergies, stroke, and heart problems. Long-term exposure can result in severe conditions such as lung and intestinal cancer, kidney disease, heart complications, and high blood pressure.
According to the World Health Organization, over 90 per cent of deaths linked to air pollution occur in low—and middle-income countries.
In Nepal, multiple studies have highlighted the severe impact of toxic air on public health. Experts note that, beyond respiratory diseases, polluted air has been linked to severe conditions such as ulcers, lung and intestinal cancers, kidney disease, heart problems, high blood pressure, and stroke.
A proactive step
Research indicates that air pollution is significantly reducing life expectancy in Nepal, with lives being shortened by about five years, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. The report also states that toxic air is more lethal than tobacco use and high blood pressure, which decreases life expectancy by 2.8 years and 1.7 years, respectively.
Beyond health, worsening air quality in Nepal also affects the economy, disappoints travellers, and hinders development.
The KMC’s initiative to monitor air quality independently is a proactive step toward addressing this critical issue. The data gathered from these sensors will help form informed decisions on mitigation measures and policy formulation, aiming to improve the overall well-being of the city’s residents.
With this initiative, KMC will become the first local unit in Nepal to independently monitor air quality, setting an example for other regions. This marks a crucial step in addressing Kathmandu’s air pollution and ensuring its citizens’ healthier future.
Savyata Adhikari is a junior editor for Nepal Connect.
Photo Credit : Adhitiya Shrestha Landscape/ Wildlife Photographer
