After a major influx of people migrating into Kathmandu from the hills following the Maoist insurgency and the more recent migration of people of hill origin due to the violence in the Nepal terai respectively, people have of late started wondering whether Kathmandu is livable from the health point of view. The thinking stems from the fact that even to breathe in today’s Kathmandu is to play havoc with your health. Not many of us who live in this teeming metropolis realize that on a daily basis we are breathing in fatal levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, dried sewage, smoke and soot. According to those in the medical profession, the short-term effects are already beginning to show among the Kathmanduites and that it is now common to talk of sore throats, headaches, burning eyes, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, depression, sinus infection, high blood pressure, irritability etc. etc.
Medical experts say that constant exposure to such high levels of air borne poison can lead to a dangerous premature aging of lung tissue and possibly cancer and emphysema. "The only time Kathmanduites can really get to breathe air considered near safe by international standards is ironically during strikes and chakka jams when life in the metropolis comes to a total halt. It’s a pity that the governments never seem to put the issue in their list of priorities" put in a health conscious citizen."
It is now common knowledge that Kathmandu has earned itself the reputation of being the second most polluted city in the world after Mexico City. At the rate environmental pollution is increasing here, it will not be the least bit surprising if Kathmandu beats Mexico City to clinch the world title in the next couple of years. Even by conservative estimates, Kathmandu’s pollution measure is regarded to be well over the danger mark all the year round. This is indeed a very grave sign and indicates the severity of vehicle emissions and other atmospheric pollutants that are slowly but surely transforming Kathmandu into a "hell hole." The bowl shaped nature of the valley that traps air pollutants and the fact that Nepal still remains one of the least industrialized nations on earth, should be reason enough for the government to galvanize itself into action. Even by conservative estimates, it is time to call for an immediate alert, if not an emergency!
The stinking garbage piles that appear in almost every nook and corner of Kathmandu and further aggravated by the just concluded Dasain garbage, coupled with the staggering stink that emanates from the Bagmati and Vishnumati rivers are added problems that have been plaguing the city for decades. It is indeed a miracle of sorts, that in spite of the problem and the growing water scarcity in the valley that has virtually forced the people to live in dirt and squalor a plague does not break out within the city. To complicate matters, stray dogs, stray cows and pigs digging through the piles can be seen further littering the roads in almost every major street crossing. The staggering stench that emanates from piles and miles of garbage, faithfully preserved by plastic bags and lack of action on the part of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Cooperation adds to Kathmandu’s sordid picture.
The carcass of dead animals lying on the main streets and highways probably hit by speeding vehicles and duly squashed and rubbed to extinction by passing trucks and buses has now become another Kathmandu characteristic. There can be no doubt that this along with the environmental pollution touched upon earlier has seriously damaged Nepal’s image in the international tourist market. But more than this seriously needs looking into is the havoc it is creating to public health!
According to reports, surprisingly government hospitals and privately owned nursing homes are further adding to Kathmandu’s environmental ills. Some 800 plus kilograms of potentially dangerous and infectious bio medical wastes, produced from operation theatres and wards of government hospitals and private nursing homes instead of being properly disposed, are conveniently dumped on the banks of the Bagmati and Vishnumati rivers. The possibility that these wastes could "spread like cancer through the Valley’s veins of the underground water system" should be enough to make Kathmanduites sit up. As it is they have already been consuming contaminated piped water supply for god knows how long. The World Health Organization Report published some time ago, that some six hundred plus people in Nepal alone out of the twenty five thousand that die the world over of water borne diseases every day should be enough to give the Kathmanduites/government sleepless nights.
The question therefore as to whether Kathmandu is livable or not becomes quite obvious. As obvious as the silence of the inhabitants for whom the plastic or polythene bag has proved to be a blessing in disguise for keeping the spirit of NIMB (Not in My Backyard) alive and well, as loud as the silence maintained by our respective government(s), the Ministry for Tourism and the exponents of "Clean Green Healthy Kathmandu." As obvious as the silence of many Non Governmental Organizations and International Non Governmental Organizations "committed" and "dedicated" to the environment.
Another related question that comes immediately to mind is why nothing is being done about it in spite of the government(s) and tourism related agencies being aware that the alarming pollution profile of Kathmandu could/has seriously damage the country’s tourism prospects in the long term. Kathmandu’s notorious reputation is slowly but surely gathering momentum and many travel agencies the world over are reportedly refusing to sell Nepal as a tourist destination unless we seriously commit ourselves and do the much needed cleaning up act. In other words, the goose that has been dutifully laying the golden eggs for over half a century has been neglected for too long which as a result is now ailing and in need of proper care and nourishment. It is indeed high time we paid more attention to the heath of the goose and stop being obsessed by the golden eggs for a while. "No goose, no eggs" is a simple home truth that in our case needs to be taken seriously.
Ananda P Shrestha
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