The sky over the Kathmandu Valley has once again been shrouded in smoke and dust. According to data from the Swiss organisation IQAir, Kathmandu’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 206 on Wednesday morning—a level classified as “very unhealthy” for public health. When the AQI exceeds 200, it signals a serious public health warning. Kathmandu’s frequent appearance near the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities reflects our persistent failure to confront this growing public health challenge. It is also a result of continued inaction. Scientific evidence has made it clear that air pollution is no longer merely an environmental concern; it is a major public health crisis. Polluted air damages vital organs such as the heart, blood vessels, lungs and kidneys, and contributes to conditions including asthma, cancer and eye diseases. It poses particularly grave risks to children, the elderly, people with respiratory illnesses and other vulnerable groups. International reports show that air pollution has become one of the leading causes of death and disability in Nepal. According to the Air Quality Life Index, toxic air has reduced the average life expectancy of Nepalis by 3.4 years. Meanwhile, the State of Global Air Report estimates that nearly 48,000 people in Nepal died from air pollution in 2021 alone.
How air pollution is destroying our health
Several factors contribute to rising pollution levels in Kathmandu. Vehicle emissions remain the largest source. Old and poorly maintained vehicles release significant amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Random inspections conducted at different times have shown that many vehicles on the road emit smoke far beyond permitted standards. This indicates that the problem lies not only in inadequate policies but also in weak enforcement. Other contributors include brick kilns, industrial emissions, construction activities, the burning of waste and agricultural residues, forest fires and pollution drifting in from neighbouring regions. During winter, when rainfall is scarce and temperatures are low, polluted air becomes trapped within the valley, further intensifying the problem. In such circumstances, the government’s role must be decisive. Unfortunately, the Kathmandu Valley Air Pollution Management Plan introduced in 2019 has remained largely ineffective. Although the government has announced plans to formulate a national air pollution control strategy, implementation has been slow. The tendency to formulate policies without enforcing them has long been a problem in Nepal, and citizens are paying the price with their health and lives. There is, however, a positive development. Nepal has recently implemented the Nepal Vehicle Emission Standard 2082, adopting Euro-6 level emission standards. This is expected to reduce vehicle emissions. Yet introducing new standards alone will not be sufficient. Unless the thousands of old vehicles currently operating on the roads are effectively regulated, the impact will remain limited.
In this context, the incoming government must establish clear priorities. First, air pollution control must be placed at the top of the national agenda. Policies must not only be formulated but also implemented with strict enforcement. Regular vehicle emission testing should be made mandatory, and stringent action must be taken against vehicles that violate standards. Second, the public transport system must be significantly improved. Greater priority should be given to electric buses and environmentally friendly public transport. Reducing the excessive use of private vehicles could significantly cut pollution levels. The electric bus service introduced by Sajha Yatayat is a positive step, but it needs to be expanded considerably. Third, strict emission standards must be enforced for brick kilns and industries. Industries that fail to adopt clean technologies should not be granted operating permits. Clear regulations must also be implemented to control dust from construction activities. Fourth, effective programmes must be introduced to control forest fires, improve waste management and discourage the burning of agricultural residues. Active involvement of local governments will be crucial in these efforts. Finally, citizens’ behaviour must also change. Society has a responsibility to maintain vehicles regularly, stop unnecessary burning of waste and adopt environmentally friendly lifestyles. The darkening skies over Kathmandu are not simply a matter of weather; they are the result of imbalanced development and weak governance. If decisive action is not taken now, the crisis will only worsen in the future. Clean air is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right of every citizen. If we fail to breathe the clean air freely provided by nature, the only alternative will be to breathe the expensive air of hospitals. Restoring Kathmandu’s blue skies will therefore require a shared commitment from the government, the private sector and citizens alike.
