Kathmandu, April 23
Air pollution has increased in Kathmandu Valley. Air quality, which had improved after rainfall, has declined to ‘very unhealthy’ level all of sudden. The Air Quality Index (AQI) had reached around 92 on Tuesday afternoon and it was 247 till 11:00 am today. It is said that it might affect people’s health. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, between 51 and 100 as ‘moderate’, between 101 and 150 as ‘unhealthy’, between 151 and 200 as ‘unhealthy for all’, between 201 and 300 as ‘very unhealthy’ and above 300 as ‘hazardous’.
Director General of Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, said insufficient rainfall, increasing drought, trend of burning agricultural residues, incidents of wildfire, have played major role in increasing air pollution. “Drought is increasing and sufficient rainfall has not occurred. It has contributed to accumulation of dust and smoke in the atmosphere,” he mentioned.
Subedi shared that the bodies concerned have been urged for effective implementation of measures for sustainable and environment-friendly development. Similarly, Meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Binu Maharjan, opined that there was no chance of adequate rainfall for next three days and temperature would continue to rise.
“The atmosphere will not be clean until rainfall which helps increase pollution,” added Maharjan. Specially, air pollution would affect children, senior citizens, heart patients and patients suffering from respiratory problems. People have been requested to avoid unnecessary movement and to wear mask.
