KATHMANDU, Jan 17: Even in the heart of winter, air pollution is on the rise across Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal, raising fresh health concerns. Efforts and policy measures to curb pollution have so far fallen short, leaving experts warning of worsening air quality in the coming days.
The Kathmandu Valley Air Pollution Management Plan, introduced in 2076 BS, has largely failed to make a dent. While a national-level air pollution management plan was proposed, it has yet to gain traction. With 89 brick kilns in the capital resuming operations in mid-January and more than a thousand outside the valley, pollution levels are expected to climb further.
“Brick kiln emissions are a major contributor to pollution, so an increase in air pollution in the coming days is inevitable,” says air pollution expert Dr. Bhupendra Das. In Nepal, air pollution is considered the leading cause of death and disability, followed by malnutrition and smoking. The World Bank’s report Towards Clean Air in Nepal estimates that poor air quality costs the country over 6 percent of its GDP each year.
According to the Department of Environment’s (DoE) Pollution Monitoring Portal on Friday, most monitoring stations in Ilam, Dang, and Kathmandu recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 150—a level considered unhealthy. Pollution between 151 and 200 affects daily life and can seriously harm sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and patients with respiratory illnesses.
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The DoE had already warned on Jan 13 that pollution levels were rising with winter’s onset, particularly in mornings and evenings. Cold temperatures keep pollutants close to the ground, while a prolonged lack of rainfall prevents dispersion. Wildfires in some areas are also contributing to the deteriorating air quality.
Major sources of pollution include industrial and factory emissions, vehicle exhaust, wildfires, burning of waste and crop residues, and transboundary pollutants from abroad.
To combat this, the DoE has urged citizens to maintain vehicles regularly, avoid burning waste or crop residues, prevent forest fires, control dust during construction, and for industries to follow government-set standards.
International studies underscore the urgency. The Air Quality Life Index–2024 (AQLI) reports that toxic air has reduced the average life expectancy of Nepalis by 3.4 years. Meanwhile, the State of Global Air Report–2024 estimates that air pollution caused 48,500 deaths in Nepal in 2021 alone.
A national action plan is needed
Recognizing the problem, the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) decided on Jan 2 last year to develop a national-level action plan. With support from ICIMOD, an inventory of pollution sources is being created to guide the plan.
A recent MoFE meeting chaired by Madhav Prasad Chaulagain decided to update the 2076 BS Kathmandu Valley Air Quality Management Plan. Agencies were instructed to prepare a five-year action plan with monitoring indicators and submit it to the DoE. Officials admit that provisions for transport, energy, health, agriculture, and industry in the 2076 BS plan have not been implemented effectively.
Experts emphasize that air pollution is a multi-sectoral issue, requiring coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments.
“A national action plan is crucial. Efforts must flow both top-down and bottom-up,” says Dr. Das.
DoE Director General Gyan Raj Subedi highlights the need for a powerful national pollution board, similar to those in other countries, to strengthen enforcement and coordination. “A strong body is essential to ensure cooperation among local, provincial, and federal stakeholders to control pollution effectively,” Subedi said.
