newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal

But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. This year, I have already started feeling different. It urges the polluters to pay for the damage done to the natural environment. "And it wasn't just the . Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, President candidate Poudel reaches RSP office seeking votes, US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion, Scathing report on Nepal's security controls, In Pictures: Air Pollution continues its grip over Kathmandu Valley, China acknowledges Sino-Indian brawl at Galwan Valley from last year for the first time, Covid vaccination drive in Nepal could be affected with Indian govt halting AstraZeneca export. Hemraj Bhattarai is agraduate student from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and is currently working on air pollution issuesat Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, Nepal. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. WASHINGTON - Today the Environmental Working Group published an analysis of peer-reviewed data that for the first time shows the global scope of contamination by the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, which may be harming over 330 wildlife species around the world.. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. Poor air quality in Kathmandu and inside rural homes due to smoky kitchen fires kill far more people across South Asia than SARS-CoV-2. Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. 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. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. 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 government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. Download the latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust,a burning issue ofthe twenty firstcentury. 1. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. A general view of a street during a smoggy day as the government has orderedschoolsto close for four days after the air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country, in Kathmandu, Nepal March 30, 2021. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. The strategy guiding the work for The Ecologist for the years 2023 to 2026 has now been published. To receive the magazine, become a member now. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . Vehicular emissions or traffic related particulate matter has serious health effects such as increased respiratory disease, reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease etc. The report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. Since the festival of Diwali ended last week, the air quality in New Delhi has drastically deteriorated, resulting in air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Required fields are marked *. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. As women play a significant role in the management and use of energy sources for household cooking, they are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution [7]. 12 February 2021. 22 September 2021. The haze has become a part of our environment, impeding our view and lowering our visibility. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan . hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. Students participate in activities such as program evaluation and monitoring, public health surveillance, program development, risk assessments and analysis, development of policy briefs . The polluter pays' principle was introduced in 1972 in order to address this issue. When will women lead big political parties? With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. 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. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poorair qualityin northern India and the Tarai was already thereducing average lifespanof tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. At a time when Kathmandu's AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 ( AQI World map, below). El descarrilamiento en East Palestine, Ohio, se ha convertido en uno de los incidentes ms mediticos y ms politizados de su tipo en los ltimos aos. Reuters. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. . With a staggering 42 percent of the population living below the poverty line and only 27 percent with improved access to sanitation, there are quite a number of issues facing Nepal. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. Site By: Hiti Design, The first step in reducing air pollution is to let, Nepali scientist returns to pinpoint hazards of dirty air, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IudF3qNM-xE&feature=youtu.benobha Gurung could have had a distinguished international career in, Sonia Awale s winter sets in and air quality deteriorates,. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . At this level of air quality, it is better that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. The rapid use of fossil fuels, increase in deforestation, unstable use of natural resources, overuse of pesticides and other chemicals, sewage and wastewater, nuclear waste, industrialization, urbanization, use of plastics and a lot more factors contribute to environmental pollution. 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. 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. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. Average life expectancy is reduced by at least four years in the worst-affected areas like Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and other parts of the Tarai. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. Find out about our mission, and our team, here. Submissions Air pollution is also the main environmental risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cancers and lung diseases, concludes a recent report by the NCD Alliance and the Forum of International Respiratory Scientists: The challenge is great, but the cure is straight-forward it must be met by national, regional, local and personal responses. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration . EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. Spain. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local," said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. Change to compound, We took a tour of the most amazing Chateau during our holiday, which we discovered . by accident.a. Recently the government has decided that the plastics that are less than 40 microns will be banned from use from the month of Shrawan 2078. 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. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. According to Tuladhar, New Delhi was able to immediately swing into action because it had an action plan to deal with the crisis. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. At times, it feels like my eyes are burning, said 34-year-old Sunil. 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. Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. There is now growing fear that the toxic air of India, which had 22 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2018, will reach Nepal and cause a similar health panic, especially as the country itself has been struggling to check its air pollution levels. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a little more positive change in the environment since the vehicles are barely on the road and people dont travel much. 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 level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. Scavengers help keep world clean, but left to plead for CO Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. 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 Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. The entire population is more likely to be affected. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. Many scientists and environmental specialists all over the world have studied the harmful effect of plastic in detail and all of them are of the same view regarding the degree of harm they represent. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. 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. systema Department of Information Registration No. Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. 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. 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 also adds to the risk of COVID-19," said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at a tropical and infectious disease hospital in the capital. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. The average global citizen loses 2.2 years of life with today's levels of air pollution and, if nothing changes, that adds up to . 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. This may collapse the whole ecosystem in general. Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. ? Pollution means decline of the original qualities of the elements of the environment like air, water, land, etc. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. The derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals upended a region of Ohio where generations of families could afford to buy acres of land, raise livestock and plant gardens. 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. According to Poudel, the pollution level in the border towns of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar can slightly influence pollution along the border area. Despite the fact that most people in our country are breathing the air with such perilous level pollution, we still lack the vigour to act responsibly against the situation. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. FEATURED FUNDS. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal The 3rd leading cause of death in low and middle-income countries is COPD, 5th leading cause is Lower Respiratory Infections and seventh is Diarrheal diseases. Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Yours sincerely, Rajesh. The study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. 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. Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt byplants, particularly to those closer to the road. 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. All living being birds, animals, insects, plants and even human beings are victims of pollution. ? Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. 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. The country of 30 . Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. SAMPLE 2. A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. 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. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Benchmarks . This is what we learned. 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. In Nepal, COPD is the second major cause of death after Ischemic Heart Diseases. 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. Other global AQI measurement sites like. This is also indicated in maroon. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. 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. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! Advertisement I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. Kathmandu: 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. News about Air Pollution, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. While asked about the poorest air quality index of the capital city, Shankar Prasad Poudel, information officer for the Department of Environment, said that three major factors have affected the air quality of the Valley. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. Thenumberofvehiclesin the valley during the last two decades has increasedninefold,and reached 922,900 in total during 2015, according to the Department of Transport Management inNepal. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. 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..

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