Kathmandu– A traffic police was trying to manage the flow of traffic at Kalanki, one of the busiest junctions in the Capital. At around 10 am on Monday, the traffic was quite dense as there were long lines vehicles coming from outside the Valley via Thankot and the regular traffic operating on the ring road. 
But the traffic police man was doing his duty as if he was unaware about the scorching sun and the plumes of dust. “This is our regular duty, sir,” a traffic police told Hakahaki. “We are working in the midst of dust cloud.” He refused to disclose his identity saying he needed approval from his senior level.
The swelling traffic volume and the road expansion drive in Kathmandu city has been increasing the pollution level in the city lately. Pedestrians and mostly the traffic police men deputed at the road junctions have been bearing the brunt of the pollution.
Traffic policemen are deployed in almost all the busy and dusty junctions of Kathmandu such as Koteshwor, Kalanki, Naya Bus Park, Maharajgunj, and Balkhu. Some of the traffic policemen shared their ordeal of having to work without even a proper mask.
They say they are suffering from headache, cough, and sore throat as they have to manage the traffic disregarding the dust and smoke.
“We are compelled to work for eight hours in dusty environment,” said a traffic police deputed at Kalanki. “We are working in the dusty settings. The mask provided by our office doesn’t last longer. We make do with this simple mask.”
They complained that they have not been provided with necessary security gadgets though they have to work in dusty environment.
According to MI Room of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, 75 percent of the traffic police are suffering from sore throat, cough, headache, allergy, eye and respiratory problems.
A total of 1105 traffic policemen checked their health at MI Room in the six month from mid-April to mid-October, 2017.
Traffic policemen are working for eight hours in Kathmandu Valley to manage traffic notwithstanding the adversity. They have been enduring the dust and smoke taking them as part of their professional duty and responsibility.
Metropolitan Traffic Police Division said there are 1400 traffic police personnel in Kathmandu Valley including 150 women.
Traffic Police administration has been providing two masks every year to traffic police for their safety from dust and smoke. The traffic administration has also been demanding glass after the growth of eye problems in traffic policemen.
“We have been giving two masks in a year to a traffic police,” said Mukunda Marashini, DSP at Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. “We have also demanded for glasses. We are trying to distribute glasses from the next fiscal year.”
“The effect of smoke emitted by vehicles and dust created due to the development works including road widening projects and Melamchi drinking water project have directly affected the health of traffic police,” said DSP Marashini. “Around 200 traffic police have been subjected to the health problems such as cold and coughing, eye infection, and headache as a result of dust and smoke.
He said the traffic police are reluctant to stay in the Capital due to growing pollution. He said the pollution of dust and smoke won’t be reduced unless the pedestrians and members of general public become cultured and disciplined.
Photos: Amish Regmi
Metropolitan Traffic Police Division Spokesperson Surendra Prasad Mainali said the level of pollution has increased due to the ongoing rapid development works.
“The country is in the process of extensive development. Traffic police has been directly bearing the brunt of pollution,” he said. “Though we have harder days now, let’s hope we will have happier days ahead.” Mainali said the government should to make arrangement for health insurance and additional allowance for traffic police.
In June, 2017, the Home Ministry had decided to provide additional allowance by removing the provision of 15 percent commission on the fines imposed on the rules violators. The ministry has sent an a proposal to the Finance Ministry seeking 45 percent additional allowance of the salary for the lower ranking traffic police and 25 percent for senior officers. However, Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada’s annual budget didn’t incorporate the demands of traffic police.
