Kathmandu, November 4
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has urged residents to take precautions against air pollution as pollution levels are likely to rise with the onset of winter.
Issuing an urgent notice, the metropolis’s Environment Management Department has asked the public to avoid activities that contribute to air pollution and follow measures to control it.
According to the metropolis, vehicle emissions, dust from roads and construction activities, smoke and dust from industries, and the open burning of plastic waste are among the major sources of air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.
Air pollution tends to worsen during winter because cold conditions prevent pollutants emitted from various sources from dispersing. The metropolis said poor air quality poses particular risks to children, senior citizens, people with asthma, cough and respiratory illnesses, and those with chronic diseases.
The metropolis has urged vehicle owners to keep their vehicles within the prescribed emission standards and carry out regular maintenance to reduce smoke emissions. It has also asked construction operators not to stockpile materials on roads and footpaths and to prevent dust during transportation, loading and unloading.
The open burning of plastic and other waste is prohibited. The metropolis warned that those who burn waste or operate vehicles emitting smoke beyond the prescribed standards will face legal action.
Industries, factories and hospitals have also been instructed to comply with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Pollution Control Standards 2025 and use pollution-control equipment.
