Amid growing concern over rising air pollution in major urban areas of the country, including Kathmandu Valley, the government on Friday decided to form “Quick Action Team”. 

The team will be led by Narayan Prasad Regmi, joint secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council Ministers. 

The team comprises representatives from the Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE), Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and the Department of Roads (DoR). 

Besides pressing for the immediate implementation of the work-plan, the meeting has asked the concerned authorities to accelerate road expansion and upgradation works and minimise dust emanating from ongoing infrastructure works including the Melamchi drinking water project by spraying water at least twice a day. 

The Department of Environment (DoE) has been asked to inform public about pollution levels recorded at different air-quality monitoring stations of the Valley. 

Participants at a meeting held at the OPMCM laid stressed on the need of regular monitoring of industries, hotels and others areas that contribute to rising air pollution. The meeting also instructed the concerned authorities to immediately act to discourage burning of garbage in open areas. 

Coordination among concerned agencies, identifying of “hot spots” with high air-pollution, minimising air-pollution agents, implementation of green stickers were other significant issues discussed during the meeting. 

The meeting was attended by representatives from the MoPE, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Department of Environment, Tribhuvan University, KMC and environmentalists.