On April 9, 2024, Kathmandu was ranked the most polluted city globally. Fast forward to March 10, 2025, and the city now ranks as the third most polluted, following New Delhi, India, and Hanoi, Vietnam, which tops the list. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), Kathmandu recorded a pollution level of 197, while Delhi and Hanoi registered 202 and 238 AQI, respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies air with an AQI of up to 50 as healthy. Levels between 101 and 150 are considered "unhealthy," while those ranging from 201 to 300 fall into the "very unhealthy" category. An AQI above 300 is deemed hazardous. Air pollution in Kathmandu is particularly severe from January to May and November to December, while mid-year months—especially August—tend to have relatively cleaner air. The deteriorating air quality in the country’s federal capital, home to several million people, highlights the urgent need to curb pollution and protect public health from the rising threat of air contamination.
Several factors contribute to the city's worsening air quality, including vehicular emissions from thousands of outdated diesel-powered vehicles, open burning of organic waste and plastic, and dust from construction sites. Black carbon from these sources creates a dense layer of soot, particularly in high-traffic areas. Pollution levels in the Kathmandu Valley worsen significantly during March and April due to forest fires and open burning. Reducing diesel-powered vehicles, regulating waste burning, and implementing stricter pollution controls could help improve air quality. The Air Quality Management Action Plan for Kathmandu Valley (2076) bans garbage burning and promotes street cleaning using brooms and vacuums. It also advises children, senior citizens, and patients to take precautions during high-pollution periods.
No Valley entry from July 17 for vehicles failing pollution tes...
The pollution level has risen to such an extreme that public health experts have already sounded alarm bells. They recommend wearing masks to reduce exposure as a precautionary measure, but the situation demands urgent government intervention to protect public health. In particular, children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions face the highest risks. Key sources of pollution in Kathmandu include solid waste burning, transportation, brick kilns, and household energy use. Enforcing a ban on open waste burning and promoting waste segregation for composting, biogas production, and recycling could help mitigate the issue. The government must take decisive action to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower pollution levels. Additional measures should include promoting electric vehicles and ensuring strict enforcement of existing laws to prevent fossil fuel-based vehicles from emitting smoke beyond set standards. As rising pollution continues to pose serious threats to public health, undermining people's well-being, it is high time the government took swift action before it is too late.
