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The level of small particulate matters in our air is estimated to be 20 times over the WHO's safe upper limit. There are areas around the valley where we can feel the air quality deteriorate as we approach it. Pedestrians often have to brave mini dirt storms on the street and then there are the vehicle emissions. The moment we step out onto the streets, we are hit with waves of carbon monoxide fumes from almost every direction.
It is an established fact that with more than seven hundred thousand vehicles running through the streets of the capital, excessive emission is largely responsible for aggravating Kathmandu's air quality. What's more, the solution is just as apparent as the problem. If only we could, at the very least, strictly imply the vehicle inspection and maintenance system it could do wonders in improving the capital's air condition.
But it's not so simple. The drivers confess, for every bus, micro or truck that is regularly serviced and maintained, there are equal numbers of those that aren't. Sundar Tamang has been driving his bus down the Thankot route for four years now. He claims there are many bus owners who are negligent about looking after their pumps and engines.
"Naturally there are some out there who will use the bus until and unless it won't start at all. For them, it doesn't matter how ancient the engine is or how much it's contributing to air pollution. They are more concerned about making a living and earning a profit. Also the rules against emitting smoke are lenient. Some owners are not that bothered by it. This makes it possible to continue using these badly maintained buses," says Sundar.
He narrates an instance of how he was stopped at Sundhara because his bus was emitting a lot of smoke. The traffic police asked him to get it fixed and slapped him with a fine of only Rs 300. Sundar insists that he will eventually get his ride to the garage but also says that the servicing won't make a difference because the vehicle is old. Further, for the time being, he is allowed to continue using the bus.
The mere sum of Rs 300 is a terribly low price to pay for playing a crucial role in degrading the environment and possibly risking people's health. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jaya Bahadur Chand from the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division agrees.
"Our laws are definitely weak. There is an urgent need to revise them. The maximum amount we are allowed to fine vehicles on charges of smoke emission is Rs. 1,000. In today's day and age that is not enough. So the accused just brushes it off and moves on. If there were some serious financial ramification, it would easily discourage people from being irresponsible about their environmental duties," say DIG Chand.
Similarly the vehicle emission test seems to have its fair share of loopholes as well. The fact that several private and public transportations have been able to acquire the 'green sticker' without proper tests is perhaps the capital's worst kept secret. The green certificate that is supposed to vouch for the quality of the engine can be seen on windshields of numerous vehicles that leave a cloud of black fume in its wake. This does beg the question, how did they get it?
DIG Chand informs that distribution of the 'green stickers' does not fall under his jurisdiction and that he doesn't comment on matters of other departments. Over at the Department of Transportation Management (DoTM) though, Basanta Adhikari, director and spokesperson asserted that there were no reports of such practices in their record.
However, Adhikari admits that their system to check the level of emission from vehicles in the capital does require some attention. "We have the Vehicle Fitness Test Center (VFTC) gifted to us by the government of China in Teku. But we have not been able to run it properly due to lack of required technologically skilled manpower among several things. We are on it though. We have formed a team to specialize on its mechanics," explains Adhikari.
Though the DoTM has been in possession of VFTC for around five years, Adhikari says they are hopeful that it will start its full fledged operation soon. For the time being, the department is manually checking the level of vehicle emission. A 'seasoned professional' visually decides whether the emission from a vehicle falls within the predefined parameters or not.
"As it is, the authorities aren't so concerned about vehicle emission these days," claims Krishna Bahadur, a bus driver who has been in the profession for 15 years now.
"Some seven to eight years ago, the regulations were very strict. As a result almost all vehicles that were contributing to air pollution were effectively banned. Kathmandu was getting cleaner then. Compared to that, these days the authorities are not taking the emission surveillance seriously. Traffic cops stop micros for overloading passengers or picking up people at random points but emission isn't a priority," says Krishna.
When questioned about their priorities, DIG Chand reveals that for the last two years the responsibility to manage and monitor such polluting vehicles has been taken over by the DoTM and it's their duty to make sure such vehicles stay off the road or the owners get them serviced and repaired. The traffic officers' role is merely to stop such vehicles and issue warnings or fines.
Adhikari, on the other hand, is quick to hold the bus drivers accountable. According to him, the number of cars and micros as well as buses has grown exponentially in our city. "Obviously there is no way for us to keep tabs on everyone. We are doing the best we can but citizens themselves should realize their obligations and maintain their engines. Each driver and car owner should be answerable for the state of air pollution in Kathmandu," he says.
You would think two years after the Ministry of Environment reported that over 1600 people in the valley die annually of air pollution; every single party involved in the issue would get their acts together. But that's clearly not the case.
Instead of working together, each party seems content with making excuses or playing the blame game. Instead of talking about the progresses they have made so far, the best they can do is promise better plans for the future. All the while, Kathmandu is becoming less livable by the day. How worse does it need to get before the authorities start realizing the importance of addressing this issue?
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