Dixya Poudel

During environment classes at school, I learnt about various kinds of pollutions such as land pollution, air pollution, water pollution and so on. Pollutions often harm nature which in turn affects human life adversely. Pollutions cause destruction of the natural ecosystem in the long run. Mankind is thus destroying its own habitat with much recklessness.
As news of deteriorating air pollution in Delhi reaches all over the world, Kathmandu residents worry about the air quality in Kathmandu as well. It is worse in winter because the lack of rain leads to excessive dust swirling in the air and into our lungs. Unfortunately, Kathmandu has been named among one of the polluted cities in the world.
Air pollution is known to cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. I have been affected by air pollution since I started living in Kathmandu. Since the past few years, I have had to take treatments for sinusitis and severe colds. Before moving to Kathmandu, I lived in Pokhara where the air quality is relatively better. The clean air in Pokhara always greets me in each visit. But since the vehicle traffic is getting aggravated in Pokhara, the city might as well succumb to air pollution if preventive steps aren't taken in time.
Walking in the streets of Kathmandu perpetually requires a mask. The heavy dust in the air combined with vehicle fumes make it hazardous to the pedestrians. The main causes of air pollution are uncontrolled vehicle emissions, high level of dust in the air primarily due to unpaved roads, smoke blasted into the air by brick kilns and industrial emissions. Among these, vehicle emission induces the most damage since there are an uncontrollable number of vehicles in the streets of Kathmandu. In winter season which is primarily a dry season, the city is engulfed in smog of smoke and dust.
Air is a mixture of gases and dust that makes up the earth's atmosphere. Living beings sustain life through air. Primarily air contains nitrogen and oxygen while the rest is argon, carbon dioxide, water vapor and minor traces of other gases. Air is the source of oxygen and hence the source of our lives. It is therefore imperative that we curb air pollution. Polluted air leads to heavy smog and even acid rain in extreme cases. Further, air pollution is responsible for global warming, not to forget hazardous health problems.
One way to tackle air pollution is to build bicycle lanes along the roads of cities. Bicycles don’t require fuels and it is one of the environment-friendly means of transportations. Further, electric vehicles ought to be encouraged as a transportation means. Another step is to subject vehicles for emission tests and prohibit any vehicles that don’t meet the requirements. Industrial and brick kilns emissions must also be regulated and controlled. And planting trees alongside the roads is hugely beneficial.
According to environmentalists, natural carbon sinks are essential to curb air pollution. Natural carbon sinks are water sources such as oceans, green vegetation and soil that absorb the carbon dioxide in the air and thus help maintain clean air. Reckless human actions are the leading causes of degrading air quality all over the planet. At this stage, we can no longer turn a blind eye to air pollution which is a major concern throughout the world.