March 23, Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Valley did not get good sunshine on Monday. Tuvalo was covering the atmosphere. Many experienced eye soreness, itching, and a runny nose. The government had decided to close the school for four days from Wednesday after the pollution increased in the same way last week.


Pollution was reduced due to rain in Kathmandu Valley and hilly areas on Wednesday night. But now pollution is on the rise again.

Senior meteorologist Raju Pradhanang Tunwalo said that air pollution was reported in the valley. His statement is also confirmed by the statistics of the environment department.

However, the level of pollution in all the pollution testing centers in Kathmandu is very unhealthy or higher. According to the Department of Environment, 201 to 300 AQI is an indicator of 'very unhealthy' air, while 301 to 400 is considered 'dangerous'.

According to IQER, headquartered in Switzerland, air pollution in Kathmandu was found to be the most polluted in the world's largest city on Monday. Kathmandu's AQI reached 353 at 10.04 pm on Monday. Delhi, the world's second largest capital, has an AQI of 246.

Birgunj and Dhangadhi have more pollution than Kathmandu. AQI is 438 in Dhangadhi of Kailali and 400 in Simara of Bara. AQI is 207 in Pokhara and 222 in Rara.

According to the Meteorological Department, the visibility of Kathmandu is only 2 km in the evening.

Fire is also a factor

Meteorologist Raju Pradhanang said that the situation was due to dust and smoke spread in the atmosphere locally.

"Due to the hurricane season, dust also comes from the deserts of neighboring countries," he said, "but the pollution has also increased due to fires in the areas around the valley."

According to the Forest and Land Conservation Department's Fire Statistics System (MODIS), large forest fires broke out in 530 places on Monday.Around Kathmandu, 31 fires have been reported in Sindhuli, 24 in Makwanpur, 20 in Chitwan, 8-8 in Kavre and Ramechhap, 3 in Dhading, 1-1 in Lalitpur and Sindhupalchowk. Apart from Kathmandu, fires have broken out in 30 places in Bardiya, 29 in Banke, 21-21 in Dadeldhura, Udaipur and Salyan and 20 in Okhaldhunga. In many places these fires are still active. Due to more fires in the hilly areas, pollution is more in the upper areas.

According to Massimid Pradhan, such pollution cannot be removed without rain or hurricane. Recalling that last week's rains have reduced the pollution rate for a few days, he said it is unlikely to rain for a few days. "It may rain in some parts of the western hilly region till Tuesday. Elsewhere, there is no possibility of immediate removal of pollution," he said.

Action plan abandoned

The Government of Nepal has also made arrangements for air pollution emergency in the Air Quality Management Action Plan for Kathmandu Valley. The action plan passed by the cabinet meeting on 3 January 2076 clearly states that disaster will be declared after exceeding 300 AQI. However, the government has not even issued a public notice to children, senior citizens and patients to take special precautions even though the data of the Ministry of Environment shows that the AQI has exceeded the health limit.

The action plan includes deploying volunteers to prevent open burning, cleaning the streets using a Brumer-vacuum, making it mandatory to avoid N-95 masks when coming and going unnecessarily, not driving as much as possible, shutting down industries in the valley and preventing non-cargo vehicles from entering the valley. Is mentioned. But environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar says the government has consistently ignored such aspects.

March 23, Kathmandu. On Saturday afternoon, 

some people were washing carpets on the road from Tyagal to Gwarko, while others were busy washing clothes on the road. The opportunity to wash clothes and carpets on the road was created by the water of Melamchi flowing through the road.

According to local Indra Kumar Shrestha, after the water fountain was released from the road, many people started filling the containers with water on the same occasion. "Drinking water used to come only occasionally. Water has been continuously released from Asti," said Shrestha.

On Sunday morning, water leaks were seen on the road in front of the gate of Ratna Park. There was water all over the road. Vehicles were rushing like water in the rain. Employees of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) came and turned off the water at noon. However, the road was muddy till evening due to frozen water in the area.

The road in front of Veer Hospital has been flooded since last year. It is not known whether the drinking water pipe is broken or there is a problem of sewage. According to the officials of the road department, the road has started collapsing due to continuous flow of water.

Water is flowing from the side of the canal at Ratna Park. The water that bursts like the original has reached the drain through the drains. The road is not accessible due to low water level.

KUKL does not have exact data on the percentage of water leakage due to leaking pipes in different parts of Kathmandu after the Melamchi water came. However, KUKL has started preparations for repairs by immediately shutting down the local valve in the place where water leaked.

Problems everywhere

Melamchi water distribution has started in Kathmandu from April 30. Since then, drinking water pipes have been leaking in different parts of the city. According to KUKL, this problem is more prevalent in the old inner cities. According to KUKL spokesperson Prakash Kumar Rai, there are problems in the sewerage system in some areas.

Such problems have been seen more in the roads of Lazimpat, Balaju, Sohrakhutte, Panipokhari, Baneshwor Chowk, Ratna Park and other areas. He said that the problem of leakage was seen as the gas coming out of the sewer weakened the drinking water pipe.

Initially distributing water from Mahankalchaur, Anamnagar, Min Bhawan and Khumaltar, KUKL has also started distributing Melamchi water in Panipokheri and Balaju areas. It is planned to start distribution of water from other areas through bamboo plantation. About 85 million liters of water is being distributed daily from Melamchi and 60 million to 70 million liters from KUKL's old source. KUKL now plans to start distributing about 170 million liters of water coming from Melamchi within 15 days.

Ujjwal Shrestha, had of KUKL's sewerage management division, said that it was common to see leakage problems in areas with narrow systems and weak joints. He said that the sewerage system had done a good job even in the last rainy season when up to 150 million liters of water was distributed.

KUKL now plans to gradually test the distribution of water through a new 1,000-kilometer distribution line in Kathmandu. However, the problem of leakage can be seen in some places even after the distribution through the new distribution line, says Kamal Kumar Shrestha, head of the project implementation directorate.

"During the test of the new pipeline, water may leak in different places," he said.

Road complaints

The Department of Roads has expressed concern after pipes burst everywhere and water leaked out. The department has expressed concern that the old road will be repaired after laying the Melamchi pipeline in the past.

"We are worried about water coming out of the road everywhere, but this problem can be solved," said Kuber Nepali, head of the road division office in Kathmandu. "KUKL should coordinate with us.