Kathmandu Metropolitan City has urged residents to stop burning plastic waste and other materials that release harmful pollutants, warning that air pollution in the capital is likely to worsen as winter approaches. The metropolis has issued an urgent notice asking the public to avoid activities that add to pollution and follow measures to control it, while saying it plans action against polluting vehicles and waste burning.
KMC identifies key sources of pollution
Sarita Rai, head of the KMC Environment Department, said vehicle emissions, dust from roads and construction, industrial smoke and the burning of waste are the main contributors to air pollution in Kathmandu. The appeal focuses on activities residents and businesses can avoid, particularly burning plastic and other materials that produce harmful pollutants.
The metropolis’ warning comes as colder-season conditions approach and the city anticipates a greater risk of worsening air pollution. KMC has asked people to take the notice seriously and avoid pollution-causing practices. Its request places waste burning alongside emissions, dust and industrial smoke as sources contributing to the city’s air-quality problem.
Reporting by Onlinekhabar, Khabarhub and Ratopati said the city has made an urgent public appeal and is preparing to act against polluting vehicles and the burning of waste.
Public urged to avoid pollution-causing activities
KMC’s notice asks residents to avoid activities that contribute to air pollution and to follow control measures. The appeal specifically warns against burning plastic, while also covering other materials that release harmful pollutants. The city’s message is that waste should not be burned as a means of disposal when doing so adds pollution to the air.
Rai’s description of the main sources indicates that the problem is not limited to household waste. Vehicle emissions, road and construction dust, and industrial smoke also contribute, alongside waste burning. KMC’s public notice therefore addresses several sources of pollution, while its warning about burning plastic gives residents a direct action they can take to avoid adding harmful emissions.
The metropolis has not, in the information available about the notice, specified a separate enforcement timetable or detailed penalties. It has, however, said it plans action against polluting vehicles and waste burning. The announcement signals that the appeal is accompanied by an intention to address these sources, as well as a request for the public to change pollution-causing behaviour.
Planned action as winter approaches
KMC’s warning highlights concern that air pollution is likely to worsen as winter approaches. The notice urges residents to avoid practices that release pollutants and to follow control measures, while the planned action targets polluting vehicles and waste burning. The city has identified these concerns alongside dust and industrial smoke as part of the broader pollution picture described by Rai.
The appeal asks residents to help limit pollution by not burning plastic or other harmful materials. KMC’s stated plan to act against polluting vehicles and waste burning puts responsibility both on the public and on sources the metropolis says it intends to address. With colder weather approaching, the city is urging people to avoid pollution-causing activities rather than wait for air quality to deteriorate further.
