All Stakeholders Must Act Together to Tackle Air Pollution: Minister Chaulagain

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All Stakeholders Must Act Together to Tackle Air Pollution: Minister Chaulagain

All Stakeholders Must Act Together to Tackle Air Pollution: Minister Chaulagain

Ecosphere News Desk 2026-01-07 20:31:00

Kathmandu, Nepal - Forests and Environment Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain has called for collective action from government bodies, local authorities, and stakeholders to effectively control air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.
At a high-level coordination committee meeting held today to review the Air Quality Management Action Plan for the valley, Minister Chaulagain emphasized that controlling air pollution requires not only government intervention but also proactive engagement from all responsible agencies.
Minister Chaulagain highlighted the need for better coordination in data management and performance monitoring among relevant institutions. He reaffirmed that the Ministry of Forests and Environment will play a key coordinating role, ensuring seamless cooperation with the Department of Environment, which he recognized as a vital institution in this collective effort.
“Local governments have shown progress in preparing and implementing air pollution control measures,” Minister Chaulagain said. “Now, all other concerned bodies must step up and fulfill their responsibilities effectively.”
During the meeting, Kiran Raj Sharma, Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, pledged the government’s full support to strengthen inter-agency coordination and policy facilitation for tackling air pollution.
Echoing this commitment, Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests, acknowledged that while air quality in the valley has improved compared to earlier periods, significant work remains. He also pointed out that local governments play an increasingly crucial role in improving air conditions.
Gyan Raj Subedi, Director General of the Department of Environment, emphasized that all responsible agencies must prioritize and implement actions that can be executed immediately to curb rising air pollution levels.
A key decision from the meeting directed that the budget for the next fiscal year 2083/84 should include prioritized activities from the action plan. Each agency is tasked with incorporating pending implementation activities within their budgetary and program frameworks.
Furthermore, stakeholders agreed to revise the action plan to make it more time-relevant and effective. Each responsible agency will identify priority measures, along with monitoring indicators, for reducing air pollution over the next five years and submit them to the Department of Environment for further action.
Environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar advised that air pollution control measures must be planned and implemented according to a clear timeline, from the local to the national level. He also called for immediate guidelines to ensure effective use of environmental taxes collected specifically for pollution control.