60 percent of vehicles fail pollution test in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU, JANUARY : Out of 292 vehicles tested for pollution by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), 174 failed, representing 60 percent of the total tested. Among the failed vehicles, 14 were from 71 petrol-powered vehicles tested, while 160 were from 221 diesel-powered vehicles.

According to KMC, the vehicle inspections were conducted in compliance with the Environment and Natural Resources Act, 2077 BS, the Pollution Control Standards, 2081 BS, and the Waste Collection and Transportation Procedure, 2081 BS.

KMC Assistant Spokesperson Dhurba Kumar Kafle stated that the vehicle inspections aim to reduce the impact of vehicular pollution. Owners of vehicles that failed the pollution test have been advised to repair their vehicles within a specified time frame and ensure they meet the required standards.

Efforts are underway to bring non-compliant vehicles under regulatory action gradually. Following an awareness program initiated on January 13, vehicles that fail to meet pollution criteria will eventually face operational restrictions unless improvements are made.

Thus far, pollution tests have been conducted on petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles operating in areas such as Koteshwor, Durbarmarg, Chakrapath, Balkhu, Babarmahal, Teku, Sukedhara, Sinamangal, Panipokhari, and Jamal. Vehicles that failed the test include public buses, school buses, government office jeeps, trucks, and others.

KMC's Department of Environment Management is conducting the pollution tests in collaboration with the Department of Environment, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, and the Metropolitan Police Force.