KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley has risen, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 191 by Monday afternoon, up from 178 earlier. This level falls under the “Unhealthy for All” category, posing heightened risks for children, senior citizens, and those with respiratory or heart conditions.
According to the AQI, Kathmandu is currently the third most polluted city in the world, after Delhi (229 AQI) and Lahore (203 AQI).
Kathmandu tops global air pollution chart again
Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyanraj Subedi, warned that without rainfall, pollution levels may increase further. Rain helps settle dust and particles, so prolonged dry weather can worsen air quality.
Environmental activist Varsha Parajuli highlighted factors contributing to pollution, including rising vehicle numbers, diesel and petrol emissions, dust from construction and infrastructure projects, forest fires, and extended dry spells.
She urged timely action to prevent further deterioration. AQI values are categorized as: 0–50 “Good,” 51–100 “Moderate,” 101–150 “Unhealthy,” 151–200 “Unhealthy for All,” 201–300 “Very Unhealthy,” and above 300 “Hazardous.”
The government has prepared an air quality management plan for the Kathmandu Valley, which includes using cleaning machines, halting waste burning, issuing public warnings, and establishing monitoring stations in major cities and industrial zones to map air, water, and noise quality.
