Worsening air pollution and irresponsible government

Kathmandu– Almost all of the countries in the world have guaranteed rights to live in clean environment in their constitution and laws. And it is in Nepal too.

The Constitution has ensured it as fundamental right. However, it is hard to stay easily for a while without mask. The government launched different campaigns to control pollution but the implementation remained weak. The graph of air pollution is rising day by day. But the government does not care about it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 35,000 people die every year, Nepal due to air pollution.

 

An international study shows that one out of the four born dies of air pollution. As per another report, Nepal has to bear annual loss of Rs 280 billion due to air pollution. People’s deprivation of right to live is clean air is government’s irresponsibility.

Lately, life of people living in the Kathmandu valley has been painful owing to the air pollution, according to a study. The different studies show that the pollution level has increased five times, creating problems to people. It is condemnable not to invest in air pollution control. It is unfortunate that the policy makers and the NGOs advocating for clean environment are aloof from this.

An international study shows that Nepal’s pollution is one of the five worst countries in the world. According to a report of Yale and Columbia Universities on Environment performance Index 2018 publicized recently in coordination with World Economic Forum, Nepal is on the front row among the countries of air pollution. The pollution graph is rising along with increasing number of vehicles. The air quality is deteriorating. Nepal’s air pollution level is 31.44 while India’s is 30.57 and Bangladesh’s 29.56.

Among 180, countries, air pollution of Burundi, which has pollution level of 27.43, is the worst. Nepal stands at 176th position among 180 countries, according to the report. India and Bangladesh are more pollutant than Nepal. Out of 180 countries, only 24 countries are clean and healthier under the set standards of pollution. The pollution was examined on the basis of 10 particulate matters.

The report has taken the air pollution as main dangerous index of environmental health. The past studies also showed that Kathmandu (Nepal), Delhi (India) and Dhaka (Bangladesh) were on the front row of pollution.

The countries with good index are France, Malta and Sweden. In these countries, electric vehicle service, environment friendly transport management and road networks are available. These countries have promoted bicycles. The air pollution in Asian countries including Nepal is mainly caused by the vehicles. It is reported that many old vehicles are operated in Nepal and road standard is also pathetic here.

The Supreme Court ordered a year ago to remove vehicles more than 20 years and examine vehicles regularly. However, the government has failed to do anything upon it. The old vehicles as well as both four and two wheelers are openly running unchecked on the roads, fueling pollution in cities. Instead of pretending to test vehicle pollution, the government should intervene and take control over the vehicles for pollution test.

Launching clean environment campaign is not enough but implementation. The Ministry of Forests and Environment has not attempted anything to minimize pollution. The broomers brought to control dust are useless. In a bid to keep the environment clean, air pollution national standard 2069BS and Nepal vehicle emission standard 2069BS should be immediately enforced.

The increasing number of vehicles along with urban lifestyle has not only increased pollution but also affected in the climate change. This concern was also moved to the Supreme Court, which directed to manage compensation. However, it is yet to be implemented.

Minister for Forests and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet promised the valley denizens to improve environment that they need not wear masks but failed to implement them at all. The fund collected for 10 years in order to control pollution has been useless. It is the weakness and negligence of the government to be able to utilize the funds.

The government has been collecting Rs 0.50 per liter from the vehicles operating all over the country for last 22 years. Rs 5 billion was collected till last mid-August under the tax title number 14521. However, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Forests and Environment could not reach for an agreement to use the fund for a decade.

The Ministry of Finance has shown unwillingness to disburse the budget after the Ministry of Forests and Environment failed to formulate work plans. The different studies have revealed that 60 percent of pollution i9n the Kathmandu valley is caused by vehicle emission, releasing hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury and nitrous oxide. These poisonous elements badly affect the human health.

The construction works of roads, sewerage improvement and Melamchi drinking water project have turned the Kathmandu valley into the city of potholes. The city air is stuffed with dust. The old vehicle emission has added woes to the problem of pollution. There is condition of getting out from the home without wearing face masks. The environment ministers’ promises in decades remained only verbal slogans but the valley people have suffered from the poisonous air. The number of vehicles in the valley is increasing day by day, escalating the level of pollution.

After implementation of Fiscal Act 17 years ago, Nepal Oil Corporation started collecting levy from the consumers. In the beginning, Rs 0.50 was collected per liter of diesel/petrol in the Kathmandu valley. The Act provisions depositing the fund collected to control pollution in the separate account. Following the amendment of the Fiscal Act nine years ago, it allowed to collect Rs 0.50 per liter from across the country. According to the Act, the revenue collected monthly should be deposited in the bank account within 25 days of the next month. The collection was transparent after it was deposited in the account of the Ministry of Finance.

World Health Organization has set a standard of dust particles weighing 2.5 micrograms, which must be 10 microgram per cubic meter outside the home and 20 microgram per cubic meter inside the home. The government standard is 40 microgram per cubic meter outside the home and 50 microgram per cubic meter inside the home. The PM of Kathmandu is 92.50 49 microgram cubic meter. Thirty-eight percent of valley pollution belongs to vehicle emission pollution and 25 percent to dust while agriculture and brick kilns contribute 18 and 11 percent respectively. Similarly, industries contribute 3 percent, domestic pollution 3 percent, waste burning and others 2 percent. When compared to the vehicle numbers between 2002 and 2012, the number of vehicles has increased by 14 percent every year.

If we believe the report of World Bank, the pollution has badly affected in human health and death, climate change and decline in agriculture production. Likewise, the natural risk has increased while there is decline in natural biodiversity. It is inevitable to manage and minimize the risk of air pollution. Therefore, the government must prioritize to control the air pollution known as silent killer of human health and environment.