Kathmandu, May 2
Dust is no more an isolated case in the Kathmandu Valley these days. Wherever you go in the bowl-shaped valley, dust follows you. Dust has become a part of metropolitan life.
It is endemic along the Ring Road, a major artery in the valley, affecting pedestrians the most, but not sparing motorists whizzing past clouds of the powdery substance. Travelling along the Koteshwor-Kalanki stretch of the road, you may begin to wonder whether the capital, the country’s only metropolis, is, in fact, a dust-o-polis?
We the people are a huge fan of development, so we are keeping mum even when the pace of demolition, road construction and expansion work has been moving on at snail’s pace. This is giving government authorities and private companies tasked with road construction and expansion work a pretext to delay the work further and make more money.
Is the government aware of the impact that dust is causing on public health? It can perhaps afford to neglect the issue because we do not have a robust public health system, meaning private hospitals can fleece those suffering from respiratory problems arising from metropolitan dust with impunity.
A woman, who this reporter met in Lainchaur, put the effect of dust on public health thus: Kathmandu’s dust is way more dangerous than smoke billowing from traditional stoves in villages. But those whizzing past vehicles with tinged glasses (she was pointing to government officials) do not see it.
We are presenting some pictures clicked at different parts of Kathmandu, where destruction (for road construction), road construction and expansion work seems to be going on forever, giving tough time to the public. Here’s hoping that those shielding themselves behind tinged glasses take note and initiate steps to clear the cloud of dust and give valley denizens some respite.
