ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I must acknowledge my deep sense of gratitude to IOE Library, Pulchowk campus, TU Library, Kirtipur, Ministry of Health, Kirtipur, CARE Nepal for the references.

The study would not be completed without their kind co-operation for providing me the study materials, data and other related information. Further, I am grateful to all my friends for giving me the inspiration and providing the help whenever I need. Lastly, I would like to give thanks to Mr. R. K. Yadav, lecturer of English department for providing me the opportunity to write the report and to Er. Ashish Ghimire, Dr. Ashish Bhakta Joshi, Prof. Mr. Bidhan Rajkarnikar for giving their valuable time to approve this report.

Besides I cannot forget to acknowledge who are directly or indirectly related in the preparation of this report.

Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome.

Abstract

The study of pollution in the Kathmandu valley, under the contract of Green-Globe consultancy, includes the direct and extensive survey of the most of the places of the alley both from technical and social aspects. The study uses the previous study, researches and data, as well as present data from various reliable sources pertaining to the pollution of the Kathmandu valley to get the solid analysis of the problem. The study unveils the major pollutions, their causes and sources, their effects and some ways to control it, in the Kathmandu valley.

There are three major types of pollutions in the valley viz. air, noise and water pollution. The main causes of air pollution are large number uncontrolled and degraded vehicles such as very old tempo & city bushes, various industries including bricks, tiles, textiles etc. Similarly, the water pollution is mainly caused by the lack of supervision and effective & regular maintenance of sewage, pipelines etc. These are due to the carelessness of the relative authorities and also due to the lack of awareness among the peoples about pollution and its adverse effect. Overall, the main reason behind all the pollution is the uncontrolled and abruptly increasing pressure of pollution, which is mainly motivated by centralized system i.e. being all the major industries, offices, banks, hospitals & even industry within the valley. The effect of these pollution, however can be felt by everyone in the valley, can be statically seen from the fact that 6% of pollution of valley has shuttered severely from respiration problem and about 20% of population is affected by auditory problem. Teaching Hospital's statistics shows that more than 40% of registered patient have problem from water pollution.

Based on these study, some effective ways like decentralization the offices, banks, academic industries etc., transferring industries to industrial estate outside the valley, banning degraded vehicles, regular & dynamic maintenance & supervision of sewage, conducting various awareness program etc. have recommended to control the pollution in the Kathmandu valley.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements i

Abstract ii

Hazards of Air pollution 3

Introduction

The pollution of the Kathmandu valley is increasing day by day and its adverse effect is growing and touching everyone; and still, there have not been any significant and solid steps to control it. The solution cannot be found and implemented until and unless we recognize the problem clearly and correctly. Under the contract to Green-Globe consultancy. I have studied the problem and recognized the major types of pollutions, their causes and the previous study, research, data and current data as well for getting a solid analysis of the problem.

The study investigates the types of pollution of the Kathmandu valley, their major causes from where they are beginning and their effect on the life style of peoples. Based on these study, some significant and basic recommendations have met that would be used to control the pollution. The report summarizes the results of the study about the various types of pollution in Kathmandu valley, their causes and effects and draws conclusions from the results, and recommends actions to be taken from the various sectors.

Pollutions

The Kathmandu valley is getting polluted drastically. Directly affecting factors are air- pollution, water pollution and noise pollution.

Air pollution

Air pollution is major environmental problem. The atmosphere of Kathmandu is very seriously affected with pollutions. The problem is found to be more serious in the industrial areas and heavy traffic zones. Increasing vehicular emissions are primarily responsible for increasing air pollution.

Present Condition

It is estimated that around 56 tones of carbon monoxide, 18 tones of hydrocarbon, 7 tons of nitrogen oxides, 0.4 tones of sulpher dioxide and 0.69 tones of particulate matters are discharged daily through the tail-pipes of the vehicles in Kathmandu. The vehicles in Kathmandu valley use 79% of all gasoline and 27% of all the diesel in Nepal’s whole consumption. On the basis of energy utilization scenario of petroleum products, the daily pollution load is estimated to be around 550 tones of Co, 14 tones of NITROGEN DIOXIDE and 3.5 tones of SO2.

Causes

Industries are the major contributors of the increasing ambient load of air pollution. In general, total suspended particles (TSP) load in the valley is estimated to be 104 tons per day for medium and large industrial sectors. Except these sources, use of low graded fuel, poor load conditions, indiscriminate quarrying and mining, bumping of solid and liquid waste and dust particles are also contributing to increase the air pollution. The content of air in the valley is shown as in pie chart shown below.

Hazards of Air pollution

Air pollution has adverse effects on

a) Vegetation

b) Public health

c) Environmental balance

Some of the vegetation, which is very sensitive towards environment, is in danger of dying out and also the vegetation that grows is not healthy. Immunity power of human beings has been deteriorated horribly. Since the air is the vital element for living, its pollution effects severely. The pollution of air has increased, the diseases such as

• Bronchitis,

• Asthma

• TB

• Sinuous

• Acute respiratory infection etc

Besides, there are other diseases also which suffered human being and in fatal cases becomes the cause of death.

Water pollution

Water whether it is used for drinking or other purposes must be fit accordingly and if not is labeled as polluted. Water pollution in the valley is disgusting. The holy rivers Bagmati & Bisnumati have become drainage cannel.

Sources

The sources of water pollution in Kathmandu are

a) Industrial sewage:

Industrial wastages, which consist of grease, oil, and other harmful chemical wastage are discharged in river without any treatment, which also produces bad smell around riverside.

b) Domestic sewage:

Domestic sewage generally includes human wastage and wastage from kitchen and so on, which are not disposed properly. In most cases, the sewage find their own way on the road and trails and wherever they find rivers, they disposed into it. Wastage from hospitals as well as industries is disposed in the river. These things not only pollute water but also air and finally environment.

c) Other sources

It is the human conduct that throws the wastage in the river from bridge and their remnant while walking over the river.

Causes

The root causes of water pollutions are

a) Chemical Causes

The organic and inorganic chemicals that are dissolved in water causes water pollution. Chemical listed below causes the water pollution

• Acids

• Alkalis

• Suspended inorganic substances

- Clays

- Silt

- Sand

• Dissolved inorganic substances

- Iron oxide

- Manganese

- Hydrogen sulphide etc

b) Bacteriological pollution

If the sewage contains pathogenic bacteria, certain harmful fungi, algae pathogenic protozoa, parasites worms etc., this causes bacteriogical pollution on the water. The excretes of human, decompose dead body of animals and birds causes bacterial pollution of water.

Hazards

Due to water pollution, water borne diseases, loss of aquatic life recreation loss, esthetic losses are increasing in the Kathmandu valley.

Noise pollution

It is another environmental problem of the valley. Noise is defined as unwanted sound level of above decibel.

Present condition

The following table shows the noise level in Kathmandu valley.

Area	Equivalent noise level	Noise Level Exceed in %
Area	Equivalent noise level	Ln 10	Ln 50	Ln 95	Ln max
High Traffic	78.97	80.97	75.34	69.04	97.11
Low traffic	75.21	78.0	71.96	64.62	94.10
Public Places	69.67	72.0	67.04	62.34	36.82
Residential and Commercial Places	74.02	77.02	70.44	63.38	92.27

Table: Noise level in Kathmandu.

Sources

Surface transportation in the major sources of high noise level for example, power tillers, bushes, heavy trucks, two engine vehicles are visibly found to be significant contributors to the high noise level in the municipal area. In the addition, old aged and poor automobiles have aggravated the noise pollution induced significant health problems. The findings of a study have shown the highest noise level (101.90 db) in high traffic area like Singh-Durbar and Ratnapark area.

Effects

Noise level above 90 db can cause deafness, chronological loss of hearing, impaired visual reaction, auditory, fatigue and contraction of bleed vessels affecting normal circulation of blood and pushing up of diastolic pressure. Noise at 150-160 db can cause pain or immediate total deafness. It is harmful physically and psychologically.

Conclusion

From the study, the following points are concluded.

1. The main problem of the pollution in Kathmandu valleys high and still rapidly growing pressure of population, and the centralized system i.e. being all the major institutes, banks, offices, industries etc. within the valley.

2. The air of the valley is not suitable for respiratory system. It consists of about 1500 in factory particles per cubic meter.

3. The air pollution has increased the patient pertaining to respiratory system to 3% of population of Kathmandu valley.

4. The air pollution in the valley is due to large number of uncontrolled and old vehicles, industries etc and due to lack of rule to control them.

5. The noise level at the most of the central places, exceeds the safe rating. The maximum noise reaches at some busy place about 140 db; which can make one deaf.

6. Drinking water in the valley is not pure. More than 60% of registered patients at Teaching Hospital suffer due to water pollution.

7. The major causes of water pollution are improper supervision and maintenance of sewage and pipelines etc.

8. The metropolis is still not quite acting to control the pollution. It lacks the effective law, system and supervision.

9. The consciousness in the people is not still sharp about the pollution and its devastating effect and thus people just don’t core about its control.

Recommendation

On the basis of the study of the pollution, the following recommendations are suggested.

1. There should be a strict law for pollution control in the valley and it should be effectively implemented.

2. The Metropolis should ban the old and unconditioned vehicles protecting large amount of polluting gas.

3. The decentralization principle should be implemented. The decentralization of offices, banks, academic centers etc will reduce the pollution pressure in the valley and thus will themselves reduce the pollution.

4. All the industries, garments, textiles etc should be shifted to an industrial area outside the valley.

5. Water corporation must be dynamic, regular and strict in obeying its own rules and making others to obey. It must incorporate more effective and efficient supervising systems and must have an aim to provide the best service to people.

6. The metropolis should provide regular and effective supervision and maintenance of water sewage, pipelines etc.

7. The metropolis should initiate many awareness programs, conduct them effectively and should try to involve directly or indirectly as large mass of people as possible to control the pollution in the valley.

Appendix

Gaseous concentration of air in the Kathmandu valley.

S.N	Components	Concentration (PPM)
1.	Nitrogen	78.09x10⁴
2.	Oxygen	20.74x10⁴
3.	Carbon Monoxide	3.2x10²
4.	Carbon dioxide	1.0x10²
5.	Ammonia	6.0x10^-3
6.	Hydrogen Sulphide	2x10^-4
7.	Sulphur Dioxide	2x10^-4

(Abstracted from a report, from Ministry of Health)

Bibliography

1. Water supply and sanitary engineering By G. S. Birdie J. S. Birde

2. E-vision 2001, Engineering Journal, IOE

3. Air pollution study paper Ministry of Health

4. Thomson Environmental pollution, 1992 TataMcgrawhill, London

Glossary

Acid - A sour compound, which burn skin.

Alkalis - A bitter compound

Asthma - Disease related with respiratory problem

Bronchitis - A disease related to lungs

TB - Tuberculosis

CO - Carbon monoxide

CO2 - carbon Dioxide

O2 - Oxygen

H2S - hydrogen sulphide

NH3 - Ammonia