SC orders govt to control dust pollution in Valley

Published On: January 15, 2018 03:05 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Photo: Dipesh Shrestha Vehicles negotiating the dusty Tirpureshwar-Sundhara road in this picture taken earlier this month.

KATHMANDU, Jan 15: The Supreme Court on Sunday issued a mandamus in the name of government authorities to carry out development activities only by controlling dust pollution and managing garbage in the Kathmandu valley.

A division bench of justices Deepak Raj Joshee and Cholendra SJB Rana issued the order in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Padam Bahadur Shrestha. Stating that government authorities - Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Ministry of Population and Environment, Ministry of Town Development, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation, Ministry of Health, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Parliamentary Environment Protection Committee and Environment Department - have not been properly functioning for the protection of environment, the bench asked the government authorities to clean the roads by removing garbage.

Accusing the authorities concerned of constructing roads and carrying out other developmental activities without addressing dust pollution and without managing garbage, the petitioner had asked the apex court to intervene for the protection of environment in the Kathmandu valley.

Claiming that government authorities' action has violated the right to environment as ensured by Article 30 of the Constitution of Nepal, sections 2 and 7 of the Environment Protection Act, 1997 and Section 2 (g) of Garbage and Sanitation Management Act, 20012 and Section 96 of Local Governance Act, 1998, the petitioner had asked the apex court to intervene in the matter.

Claiming that government authorities have been violating the right of the people to live in a clean environment as guaranteed by the Environment, Science and Technology and Nepal Vehicle Pollution Standard, he sought an apex court order to government authorities for protecting the right.

The petitioner had lodged the petition last year demanding a court order to government authorities to carry out the developmental activities only by controlling pollution and garbage problem, cleaning roads by removing the garbage being dumped randomly on roads.

Stating that the smoke being produced from garbage and vehicles has been polluting the air in the Kathmandu valley, he had urged the apex court to direct government authorities to follow the Air Quality Related National Standard, 2011 and Nepal Vehicle Pollution Standard, 2013.