The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is sending a team of experts to India next week to explore broomer machines, according to metropolis officials.

The Ministry of Finance had approved Rs 90 million last week for the purchase broomer machines for cleaning the dusty roads in the Capital. The KMC has also announced to add an equal amount of money to buy 10 broomers machines. 

The metropolis is sending two faculty heads at the mechanical engineering from Pulchowk Engineering Campus and Thapathali Engineering Campus along with a few of its staffers from the engineering department. 

The team will be exploring performances of prototypes of boomers used in different Indian cities and submit a report recommending the brands and models suitable for the Valley, said the KMC officials.

It will take three months before the metropolis puts a purchase order for the machines, KMC Chief Executive Ishwor Poudel said. “We’ve got to wait for the team’s report. Then there are further bureaucratic formalities before we initiate the bidding process.” The Valley roads have witnessed an unprecedented level of dust pollution in recent times due to the ongoing road-widening drive and laying of pipelines under the Melamchi Water Supply Project.

In fact, the incomplete task  is adding woes to the denizens who are already struggling to cope with the rising air pollution, that has stood a biggest threats to the health of the city’s residents.

The KMC currently has only one broomer machine, while the Department of Roads is believed to be using four such machines. But the current number of machines but it doesn’t seem effective.

Beginning last week, the KMC has been using 70,000 litres of water to wash away dirt and soil on the major Valley roads every night between 9pm and 12am to mitigate dust pollution.

Poudel, who is looking over the cleaning campaign himself, added, “We will continue to sprinkle water on the roads even after the procurement of broomer machines.”