Friday, May 20, 2005

Rainwater harvesting can slake Kathmanduites' thirst

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, March 19:

The recent downpour was little trouble and more of a relief for Kathmanduites, considering the scarcity of drinking water. Even the government admits it can meet only half the total water demand in the capital city.

Consequently, people have to depend either on expensive water from tankers or rainwater. According to the Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO), over 200 people have installed a mechanism to collect rainwater systematically, to keep the headache of water shortage at bay. "There is no record of how many people collect rainwater. But recently, around 200 people have installed a simple mechanism that helps them collect rainwater," said Rajesh Adhikari, an official at ENPHO.

Among others, Hutaram Baidhya, Prafulla MS Pradhan, Janardan Dhungana, Sangeeta Maskey, Sumitra Manandhar Gurung are some of the one-step-ahead citizens of the capital who have utilised the rainwater and have stopped worrying about water shortage during the dry season.

Officials at ENPHO wonder why the government is not taking any initiative to promote rainwater harvesting as an alternative to tide over the water shortage, though all government officials know it is a simple, cost-effective method.

Those militating against the water crisis allege that the government is guided by the interest of donors who do not want to promote rainwater harvesting as they have already invested a large amount of money in bringing in water through a 26.5 km tunnel from as far away as the Melamchi river.

The former minister for physical development, Prakash Man Singh, and the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City had promised to make rainwater collection obligatory last year, but neither has delivered.

Adhikari said from a 100 sq metre rooftop, one can collect four cubic metres of water in March and 35 cubic metres of water in August. "The quality of rainwater is better than what the government provides via pipelines. Even so, air pollution and the surface of catchment areas and collection tanks also matter," he said.

Noted environmentalist and executive director at Clean Energy Nepal, Bhushan Tuladhar, said air pollution also can affect the water quality, but rainwater itself can work as a flush so the rainwater collected after an hour or so is absolutely clean. So far as acid rain and its impact on rainwater harvesting is concerned, Tuladhar said the possibility of chemical pollutants in rainwater cannot be ruled out, but it is not hazardousn Kathmandu valley.

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Friday, May 13, 2005

Valley environment turning better

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, May 12:

Residents of Kathmandu Valley, rejoice! The air pollution in the valley is literally decreasing, according to reports. Increasing
environmental awareness has wrought this pleasant change.

The government's weekly report states that the air quality of the valley is getting better, with fewer amounts of dust particles.

At the beginning of the year, air pollution level crossed more than 600 micrograms of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrograms per
cubic metre in January. But, last week's report has recorded 294 micrograms as the highest mark.

Nepal's ambient air quality standard is 120 micrograms per cubic metres. Kathmandu Valley has six monitoring stations � Putali Sadak,
Matsya Gaon, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Thamel and Patan Hospital � which continuously record and analyse the data.

In the first week of January, Patan recorded 579, which fell to 191 in the first week of May. Similarly, Thamel's 481 climbed down to 76,
Bhaktapur's 287 to 87, Kirtipur's 318 to 55, Matysgaon's 120 to 33. And Pultali Sadak, that recorded 633 in January now provides no data but the last available, that of March, states it recorded 207
micrograms. Robin Man Shrestha, chief of Urban Environment Section, said the positive change was a result of people's awareness about the
environment and hazards to it. "We are doing OK. But a lot still has to be done to make Kathmandu really pollution-free," he said.

Bhushan Tuladhar, executive director, Clean Energy Nepal, said on an average the air ollution had decreased by 6 per cent but there was still scant reason
to be happy with the reports of the air quality monitoring.

"The air quality is improving, but we need to acsertain that the Valley conditions are free from danger before concluding that
anti-pollution drives are bearing fruit."

Tuladhar conceded that the fact that the air quality of Bhaktapur had improved by 15 per cent. "The main reason for this is the removal of
old-style brick kilns.

It demonstrates that a minor decision of the government on account of public pressure has made a dramatic difference.

Valley environment turning better

Razen Manandhar

Kathmandu, May 12[2005]:
Residents of Kathmandu Valley, rejoice! The air pollution in the valley is literally decreasing, according to reports. Increasing environmental awareness has wrought this pleasant change.

The government’s weekly report states that the air quality of the valley is getting

better, with fewer amounts of dust particles.

At the beginning of the year, air pollution level crossed more than 600 micrograms of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrograms per cubic metre in January. But, last week’s report has recorded 294 micrograms as the highest mark.

Nepal’s ambient air quality standard is 120 micrograms per cubic metres. Kathmandu Valley has six monitoring stations — Putali Sadak, Matsya Gaon, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Thamel and Patan Hospital — which continuously record and analyse the data.

In the first week of January, Patan recorded 579, which fell to 191 in the first week of May. Similarly, Thamel’s 481 climbed down to 76, Bhaktapur’s 287 to 87, Kirtipur’s 318 to 55, Matysgaon’s 120 to 33. And Pultali Sadak, that recorded 633 in January now provides no data but the last available, that of March, states it recorded 207 micrograms. Robin Man Shrestha, chief of Urban Environment Section, said the positive change was a result of people’s awareness about the environment and hazards to it. “We are doing OK. But a lot still has to be done to make Kathmandu really pollution-free,” he said.

Bhushan Tuladhar, executive director, Clean Energy Nepal, said on an average the air

pollution had decreased by 6 per cent but there was still scant reason to be happy with the reports of the air quality monitoring.

“The air quality is improving, but we need to acsertain that the Valley conditions are free from danger before concluding that anti-pollution drives are bearing fruit.”

Tuladhar conceded that the fact that the air quality of Bhaktapur had improved by 15 per cent. “The main reason for this is the removal of old-style brick kilns.

It demonstrates that a minor decision of the government on account of public pressure has made a dramatic difference.