Cold Weather Worsens Air Pollution in Kathmandu Valley

January 6, 2025
Kathmandu Valley Weather

With the cold weather, air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley has increased. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), today the valley’s air pollution level is 205 AQI.

Environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar says that air pollution is more likely in colder seasons than in summer. “In cold weather, air stays closer to the ground for longer, increasing pollution chances. As the temperature rises during the day, pollution disperses into the air,” he explained. Additionally, the burning of garbage, tires, and firewood during cold weather also contributes to pollution, he added.

According to the AQI, Kathmandu Valley is the fifth most polluted city in the world. Pakistan’s Lahore tops the list with an AQI of 341. India’s Kolkata is second with an AQI of 248, Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar is third with 238 AQI, and India’s New Delhi is fourth with 227 AQI.

According to disaster management expert Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti, an AQI of 0 to 50 is considered good and marked with a green signal. AQI between 51 and 100 signals caution. Levels between 101 and 150 can cause breathing problems and are risky for heart patients. An AQI of 151 to 200 is considered unhealthy, while levels beyond that indicate severe health risks.

The Kathmandu Valley Air Quality Management Action Plan, 2076, specifies that an AQI above 300 is considered a disaster. To prevent such disasters, the plan mentions stopping garbage burning, increasing brooms and vacuums for street cleaning, and issuing public notices for special precautions to protect children, senior citizens, and patients.

As per the National Environment Policy, 2076, the government plans to reduce pollution by implementing national standards for controlling pollution from water, air, soil, noise, electromagnetic waves, radioactive radiation, and hazardous chemicals. The policy also includes establishing monitoring centers in major cities, industrial areas, and high-risk zones to measure air, water, and noise quality and create quality maps.

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