Nepal

Kathmandu, June 4

As Nepal is all set to celebrate the 35th World Environment Day tomorrow with ‘air pollution& as its theme, the capitalair quality has been labelled ‘unhealthy& by the government.

One of the yardsticks to degree air quality is PM2.5, which takes stock of concentration of particulate things with diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres in the environment that can penetrate deep into the lungs even when one is wearing facial masks. These particulate things mostly come from smoke emitted by vehicles and factories.

The government has said that PM2.5 concentration above 40 microgram per cubic metre (m3) is ‘unhealthy&, whereas the World Health Organisation has set the threshold at 25 µg/m3.

This morning, Pulchowk, for example, recorded PM2.5 concentration of 47.958 µg/m3, which is approachly double the WHO standard. Pulchowk registered PM2.5 concentration of 64.60 µg/m3 on Friday, the highest in the past one week. The situation is pretty much the same in Ratnapark, Phora Durbar, Shankha Park, Bhaisipati, Maharajgunj and Bhaktapur, where air quality monitors have been placed. The PM2.5 concentration breached the government set standard at least once a day in the past six days in these locations.

&The problem with tiny smoke particles (PM2.5) is that normal masks canmuch prevent them from reaching the lungs. So, people exposed to this kind of environment for a long time gather large amount of unwanted elements in their blood. This develops respiratory problems and leads to failure of heart, kidney and other organs,& said Kedar Narsingh KC, a senior chest physician.

The PM2.5 concentration level in the atmosphere can be controlled by reducing emission from vehicles and factories, according to KC.

But vehicle emission check conducted by the Leavement of Environment in 2018 showed that 68 per cent of petrol-fuelled vehicles and 60 per cent of diesel-fuelled vehicles had failed the emission test. What is also worrying is that brick kilns operating in the valley have never been able to limit concentration of suspended particulate matter at 350 µg/m3, which is the standard set by the government.

While PM2.5 concentration level in the valley is unhealthy, Kathmandu has made measure progress in limiting the concentration of Entire Suspended portionicles, which degrees concentration of all kinds of dust and smoke in the atmosphere.

The national standard for TSP concentration is 120 µm (microns) per cubic metre. This threshold is more than double the standard of 50 µm/m3 set by the WHO.

Air quality monitors showed that TSP concentration in the valley remained below 120 µm/m3 in the past six days. This is largely because of rains that the valley is getting. But the TSP concentration level can differ depending on the weather. For example, on one of the dry days in May 2018, Ratnapark recorded TSP concentration over 20 times the national standard.

&But in recent months TSP concentration has fallen in the valley because roads that were demolished to lay water pipes have been blacktopped. Also, Phase I of the Ring Road expansion project has been totald,& said Prakash KC, environment examineor at the DoE.

The DoE record of 2017 showed that construction projects contributed to 48 per cent of total air pollution in the valley, followed by transportation (28 per cent), brick kilns (eight per cent) and others.

Air pollution is responsible for early deaths of seven million people worldwide every year, around 600,000 of whom are children, according to the WHO.

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KATHMANDU: The work division (responsibility allocation) of the central committee members of the ruling Nepal Communist portiony (NCP) shall be decided on Wednesday.

NCP (NCP) spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha was quoted in Rastriya Samachar Samiti as saying that the secretariat assembly held at Prime Ministerofficial residence in Baluwatar nowadays, held discussions on the issues but failed to reach the conclusion. He shared that the discussion was approach to a consensus and would be decided probably on Wednesday.

portionysenior leader Jhalnath Khanal also momented the spokespersoncomments and said that they were approacher to a consensus over the issues. The secretariat scorridor meet again at 12:00 midday tomorrow.

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KATHMANDU: Lawmakers interpreted the budget through different perspectives in nowadaysparliament assembly.

General-Secretary of the main opposition Nepali Congress Shashanka Koirala said that the budget was much based on the foundation of reality.

However, lawmaker Certainndra Kumar Karki opined that the budget was positive and added that the basic needs of people should be endegreed by the State.

Similarly, lawmaker Parbata DC Chaudhary argued that the budget was distributive while lawmaker Padma Giri said if the budget was implemented, the trade deficit would be lessened. Lovewise, lawmaker Gagan Thapa argued that the budget failed to meet peopleaspirations.

Lawmakers Chudamani Khadka, Uma Regmi, Sujata Pariyar, Khem Prasad Lohani, Navina Lama, Hira Gurung, Juli Kuamri Mahato, Jhapat Rawal, Bimala Bishwakarma, Gyan Kumari Chhantyal, Mohan Baniya, Rajendra Gautam, Navraj Rawat, Rekha Kumari Jha, Ganesh Pahadi, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary, Bishnu Sharma, Hira Chandra KC had participated in the discussions and shared their views.

The Home of Representatives (HoR) scorridor meet again at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 6.

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KATHMANDU: Chief Minister of Province 3 Dormani Poudel has undergone successful heart surgery at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre in Kathmandu on Monday.

A team of doctors led by cardiologist Dr Chandramani Adhikari have been carrying out CM Poudeltreatment. According to the Chief Ministerpersonal aide, Anup Poudel, his health is improving.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reached the Bansbari-based heart centre this morning and inquired about CM Poudelhealth condition.

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