Norms in place
The March 2003 indictment by the Supreme Court of Nepal and unrelenting public pressure have finally forced the country's government to formulate a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (naaqs). The same has been sent to the law ministry for publication.
In recent years, high levels of air pollution have emerged as Nepal's most visible component of environmental degradation. It is estimated that air pollution costs the country about US $4 million per year in medical costs for Kathmandu residents. The Kathmandu Valley's bowl-like topography and low wind speeds during winter create poor dispersion conditions. These factors expose the area to severe air pollution. A Nepalese daily has reported that the current level of particulate matter (PM10) in the Putalisadak locality is as high as 385 microgrammes per cubic metre. Significantly, this is three times the air quality norms the government has now set for PM10.
naaqs sets the permissible limit for six pollutants
Related Content
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding brick kilns operating illegally in Uttar Pradesh, 12/02/2024
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding carrying capacity of pilgrimage centres in Uttarakhand, 05/01/2024
- Order of the Madras High Court regarding plea for regulating pilgrim footfall during temple festival of Adhi Karuvannarayar temple located in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Erode district, Tamil Nadu, 02/01/2024
- Report by Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee regarding the status of ETP/CETP/STP in Chandigarh, 23/10/2023
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal sand mining in Jharkhand, 26/09/2023
- Order of the Supreme Court regarding illegal dumping of coal in the land belonging to Northern Coalfields (Bina project), Krishnashila railway siding, Bina, Shaktinagar, district Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, 15/09/2023