newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal

. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. In . Find out about our mission, and our team, here. 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. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. 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. 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. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt byplants, particularly to those closer to the road. 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. 12 February 2021. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. 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. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu 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. Introduction. Phil Murphy but which has yet to take full effect should prevent the . Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. 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. ? Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government that is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. This index is coloured red. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . 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.. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. 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. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . 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. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. 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. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . 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. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. 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. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. All living being birds, animals, insects, plants and even human beings are victims of pollution. 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. 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. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. 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. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. It is now causing heart attacks, kidney diseases, osteoporosis and dementia. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. At the same hour, Bhaktapur's air quality degraded as low as 347 (according to The World Air Quality Project) while as per DoE's data it stood at 348. The report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. "We found that the pollution exposure was really, really high, suggesting potential for substantial health impacts of air pollution in this region," says Gurung, who is now a doctoral candidate at F&ES. The government, which has been engulfed in a crisis within the ruling party after Prime Minister K P Oli dissolved the Lower House and called for snap polls in April-May, seems to be too distracted to pay attention to the converging crises of Covid-19 and air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. 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. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. Yours sincerely, Rajesh. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. In recent years, cities in the Tarai have become infamous for the poor quality of their air, mostly because of the heavy presence of industries, dust from construction, and also trans-boundary pollution. 18/11/2022. To The Editor The . 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. The funds are the first . 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. A recent study by scientists from Peking University (China) and the University of Connecticut (USA) [1] has revealed that 1 in 15 lost pregnancies in South Asia may be due to air . The views expressed in the articles published on this site may not necessarily reflect those of the trust, its trustees or its staff. 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. AQI level between 0-50 is Good, 51-100 is Moderate, 101-150 is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151-200 is Unhealthy, 201-300 is Very Unhealthy, and anything above 301 is regarded as Hazardous. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Thanking you. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. Due to the industrial revolution from the late 20th century the environment has been polluted to such an extent that now it has become a global issue. Submissions Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. 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. In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists were in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, developing a device to measure . 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. Looking at the air quality data over the last few years, it appears that Nepal made amarked improvement from 2018 to 2019, with a PM2.5 reading of 54.15 g/m beingrecorded as an average over 2018 as compared to 44.46 g/m in 2019. 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. We need to be extra careful because by the time we reach peak pollution levels, we will be gearing up to launch Visit Nepal 2020, said Tuladhar. Your email address will not be published. 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]. 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. The country of 30 million people lies in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . 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. In Nepal, 35,000 people die annually due to illnesses caused by polluted air. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Senate voted Thursday to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen catalytic converters, a crime that has skyrocketed across the country in recent years. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. But it shall be helpful only if it is implemented. But so far, the government has done almost nothing to control air pollution.. The study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. 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. In Nepal, a Cabinet decision last year adopted the Department of Environments guidelines for air pollution to declare a health emergency if AQI exceeded 300 meaning the government can ban open burning, close factories, and take measures to reduce vehicles on the roads. 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. Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Find out more. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. When will women lead big political parties? 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. Nestled between China and India - two of the world's biggest polluters - Nepal often . 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 country of 30 . The birds identified as having the disease, named . The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. Reuters. This level is considered hazardous, and can lead to serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly, [along with] serious risk of respiratory effects in general population, according to the United States Environment Protection Agency. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. 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. We are mainly responsible for the destructive changes in the environment. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. 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. 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. Department of Information Registration No. SAMPLE 2. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . As we see the readings from air quality metres located in various stations of the country, we find that Simara has the poorest air quality. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. Nepal, especially Kathmandu, in the current situation, is observing rapid urbaniz 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.. We could barely see the birds flying around before but nowadays we can see the birds chirping and flying up in the sky due to decrease in air pollution. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government that is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The major reason for high ambient air pollution in Nepal is largely from traffic related with old . Required fields are marked *. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency . 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. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. 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]. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. 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. The Biden Administration will make $250 million in grants available to develop strategies to cut climate pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Air pollution is a chronic problem in . Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . 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. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. 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. (left). The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. 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. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. The agency, along with local and . That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. Iturges the polluters to pay for thedamage done to the natural environment. 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. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. The website is owned and published by The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity. , : Which country has the most number of lakes. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. We should work for the betterment of the environment because the nature has provided a lot to us and we shouldnt be disgraceful towards it. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found that in polluted urban areas, reducing air pollution could do as much as completely eliminating smoking would to lower rates of the 12 types of cancer most commonly associated with smoking, including lung cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer . There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. 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. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Other global AQI measurement sites like. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu One hour later, at 9:00 am, the air quality at Simara was recorded at 354; second on the list was Bhaisepati in Lalitpur at 196 and third was Dhagadhi at 195 (Department of Environment). Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. 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. 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 The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. The government should really take a closer look at what their decision might lead the environment and the whole country to in the future. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. FEATURED FUNDS. 2426/077-78 Anupamaas Nidhi Shahs off-screen glam looks, Top 10 T'wood actresses of the 80s and 90s, Shraddha Das rocks the thigh-high slit trend, Live: PM addresses post-budget webinar on Green Growth, Oscars to have Crisis Team after Will Smith slapgate, Adani's older brother plays key role at embattled dynasty, Terms of Use and Grievance Redressal Policy. Download the latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. Advertisement Your email address will not be published. At a time when KathmandusAQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morningwith 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 (AQI World map, below). 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. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. Hundreds of thousands are sheltering in tents, breathing air thick with pollutants unleashed from tombs of rubble, fearful that a new disaster could strike at any moment. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. The transport sector further contributes 30 percent of PM10 particles, which are smaller than a grain of sand and can easily pass through the hairs in our nose, second only to the construction sector, which emits 53 percent of the total PM10. Located between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters, the Himalayan nation is seeing the worst pollution levels since 2016. 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 World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust, a burning issue of the twenty first century. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit37,399 and 9943 respectively,according to aRepublica news report published on 23 November 2019. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal 1. We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration . As the new year gets underway, the world continues to grapple with a number of familiar challenges - the continued COVID-19 pandemic, resurgent wildfires, enduring crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. 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.