KATHMANDU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Mayors and deputy mayors of Kathmandu Valley, which consists of 18 municipalities, have expressed commitment to combat rising air pollution in Kathmandu on Thursday.
During the one-day event entitled "Mayors' Summit on Air Pollution" organized by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Clean Energy Nepal, mayors and deputy mayors discussed over the current scientific understanding of air pollution, possible solutions that municipalities can implement on the regulatory framework.
Addressing the event, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Bidhya Sundar Shakya highlighted the need of coordination between the central, federal and local government to fight air pollution.
"The municipality has prioritized solid waste management and has been trying to manage public transport system to fight pollution. But we are in need of clear policies," Shakya said.
Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiri Babu Maharjan said all the municipalities and stakeholders should join hands together to preserve the environment and to make the capital city livable.
Similar view was presented by other mayors and deputy mayors of the valley, which is made up of three districts Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
Their commitment comes at a time when air pollution has become one of the biggest challenges in Nepal, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley.
According to experts, the reason for worsening air quality are multiple including mobile sources such as transport, area sources like open waste burning and stationary sources like industries.
