It has been found that the risk of air pollution is higher in Nepal than malnutrition and tobacco products and it is causing human and economic damage. According to the report titled 'Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions' released by the World Bank Group on Tuesday, air pollution is reducing the average life expectancy of Nepalese people by 3.4 years and is causing about 26,000 premature deaths annually.
Air pollution is responsible for 75 percent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 46 percent of stroke, 44 percent of ischemic heart disease, 41 percent of respiratory infection, 38 percent of lung cancer, 30 percent of newborn problems, and 20 percent of diabetes in Nepal.
It has been pointed out that air pollution has become the main cause of death and disability. The World Bank has suggested that coordinated policies and investments in various sectors are necessary for improving the environment. A basic study of air pollution in Nepal and Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills is presented in the report.
It is mentioned in the report that the air quality of Kathmandu Valley and Terai region, which are considered to be two major pollution centers of Nepal, has not been significantly improved for the past decade. "Air pollution has also had a negative impact on labor productivity, tourism and aviation," the report said, "the economic value of poor air quality is more than 6 percent of Nepal's gross domestic product." While announcing the
report, Forest and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri said He opined that clean air and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. "If strict measures are not taken today to control pollution, the cost will be much greater in the future," he said, "The government is committed to initiatives ranging from electrification of vehicles to tightening industrial emission standards."
David Sislen, Country Division Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka of the World Bank, informed that financial, technical and capacity building assistance is being provided to strengthen Nepal's air quality improvement program.
