Opinion | Open-air burning is choking our cities. It’s time to tackle it
Summary
Open-air burning of household and industrial waste is significantly worsening the air quality in Nepalese cities, posing severe health and environmental risks. Despite fines, enforcement remains lax, urging urgent education and government action to curb this damaging practice.
Key Points
- Open-air burning of waste is a major but under-reported contributor to urban air pollution in Nepal's cities.
- The practice has increased due to disruptions in waste collection, particularly in Kathmandu Valley since 2021-22.
- Current fines and penalties have not effectively deterred open burning of rubbish.
- A multi-pronged approach involving public education, strict enforcement, and school curricula reform is needed to address this issue.
