The ministry published the law on air quality standards in Nepal Gazette on October 15, however a Department of Environment has not been formed and mechanism to implement the law, is yet to come into operation.

Though the ministry has endorsed the Euro III standard in new import of vehicles, vehicles are the largest polluters in the Valley. There are about 7.5 lakh vehicles in the Capital.

Since the country’s seven air pollution measurement stations have been dysfunctional for the past four years, emission levels have not been measured, nor has any factory or industry been regulated.

Likewise, the law has also set sound quality standards. The threshold of sound quality is 75 decibel for day and 70 decibel for night in industrial areas while commercial areas should limit the measurement to below 65 decibel in the day and 55 decibel at night.

The sound standard is 65 decibel for water pumps, 90 decibel for diesel generators installed inside houses and 70 decibel for TV and music systems. But the sample measurement of sound pollution by the ministry has already crossed the threshold at many places in the city, say ministry officials.

Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Keshav Man Shakya said users have to follow measures to reduce noise in public areas.

Senior Divisional Engineer at Environment Standard Division Gobinda Kharel said they have brought a law aiming to raise public awareness. “Implementation is difficult but we want to make pollution control a ‘social obligation’ with public support.”

At a press conference organised at the ministry, the other implementation measures suggested were green sticker system for vehicles and promotion of environment friendly technology and investment.

Kharel also said the law of incineration for hospital waste at the highest degree temperature is on the cards.