Recently Kantipur, the national daily paper, covered one news report (link for the news report: http://ekantipur.com/nep/2069/5/14/full-story/353677.html) highlighting flaws in existing vehicle emission testing programme in Kathmandu Valley. According to the news report, vehicle owner can get emission testing certificate just for 500 rupees without undergoing through real vehicle emissions testing. This means many vehicles that actually do not meet the vehicle emissions standard are awarded with green stickers and allowed to emit hazardous pollutants posing health risks to locals. The existing in use vehicle emission standards won’t have any significant impact and output until the concerned regulatory authority is strengthened and compliance is enforced strictly.
Why vehicle emissions are matter of concern for Kathmandu Valley?
Population of Kathmandu Valley (KV) is growing faster due to the migration of people from other parts of country in search of better economic opportunities. This is resulting in more pressure on available resources, including clean air. Due to the rapid urbanization of the valley, vehicle ownership is also on the rise. Government studies claim that vehicles emissions are a major source of air pollution in Kathmandu Valley.
In 1990, the total number of registered vehicles in Nepal was 76,376 but by 2007/08 this number had increased ten-fold to 703,040.The vehicle population is increasing at the annual rate of 13.61 %, most of which is due to the high growth rate of private vehicles such as motorcycles and small cars. The share of motorcycles is over half the total vehicle fleet and increasing with annual rate of 16.32%[1]. Out of the total registration, about 65% of vehicles are registered in Bagmati zone and majority of these operate inside Kathmandu Valley.
Particulate Matter is the main air pollutant in Kathmandu Valley. If we analyze the data from the years 2002 to 2007, except for 2006, PM10 levels are generally higher than the national standard (120µg/m3), and consistently exceed WHO guidelines (20µg/m3)[2]. Other criteria pollutants are found to be within national and international standards.
The air pollution in the valley is affecting different sectors; however the impact on human health is one of major concern. A recent estimate of impact of air pollution on human health shows that the excess mortality due to air quality situation in Kathmandu is 900 per million populations. This study estimates that a 50 ug/m3[3] reduction on PM10 level would contribute to avoiding 1600 deaths every year in Kathmandu. Other expected adverse impacts are in the tourism sector, agriculture sector, and historic monuments.
As per an emission inventory done in 2005, the major contributors to PM10 levels in the Kathmandu Valley are transport sector (37%) followed by re-suspension road dust (25%) and brick industries (11%). The PM10 contribution from the transport sector is about 7890 tons per year that includes both tailpipe emission and re-suspension of road dust[4]. Thus, it is necessary to curb vehicular pollution in the valley through promotion of cleaner fuel and vehicles, better transport system, and effective and efficient vehicle inspection and maintenance system.
Studies have shown that about 20 percent of the most polluting vehicles are responsible for about 50 percent of the pollution[5]. Hence, an effective vehicle emission inspection and maintenance system should be in place in conjunction with other Air Quality Management Measures to ensure clean air for all.
Problems in the existing vehicle testing programme in Kathmandu Valley
Although Government of Nepal has introduced emission standards for in-use vehicles and emission testing system in Kathmanud Valley, the enforcement and compliance situation has not been effective. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police (KVTPO) and the Bagmati Zonal Transport Management Office (BZTMO) of Department of Traffic Management (DoTM) have been constantly monitoring the emission level of in-use and imported new vehicles respectively. These agencies are providing green stickers to those vehicles, which pass the inspection test.
Followings are the major underlying issues and problems that make the present inspection and maintenance system ineffective and inefficient:
- The present system is facing severe problems in terms of availability of good equipment, trained human resources and other facilities. Only two testing centers are in operation to handle more than 400,000 registered vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley. These centers are overcrowded and the testing results are questionable due to condition of testing equipment and the service they are providing.
- The cases of malpractices and corruptions have also been reported while issuing the green sticker. Many drivers and vehicle owners tamper with the air to fuel ratio to lower the emissions during the test and easily get green sticker. These vehicles are emitting more than the prescribed limit while plying on the roads and contributing to the air pollution in the valley.
- There used to be a random road side emission testing in the valley. The roadside test stopped due to the resource constrains (manpower, equipment and other facilities). In the absence of random roadside test at different streets of valley, it is very difficult to minimize the practiced fraud and corruption. There is no ways to question and punish smoke belching vehicle although it has received ‘green sticker’.
- Nepal lacks emission standards and emission testing requirements for new and in-use two wheelers. Hence, all two wheelers are left out from being tested and regulated. Two wheelers could also be a significant source of vehicular pollution in the valley.
- The general public also lacks sufficient awareness and knowledge on the benefits of regular inspection and maintenance of their vehicles. Vehicle owners visit workshops only when the vehicle faces serious problems. Furthermore many motor mechanics and workshop centers have inadequate knowledge and skills on preventing vehicle emissions through simple measures.
- There are issues related to good governance, institutional capacity and awareness at the policy and political level. The issue of AQM is not included a priority for Policy makers and political leaders. This demands an integrated approach to bring issues of AQM to the attention of the policy makers and political community.
Ways Ahead
To address abovementioned issues, there is a need to devise appropriate strategies and action plans to improve vehicle inspection and maintenance system in the Kathmandu Valley in order to reduce vehicular pollution.
Focus should be on:
- Increase awareness and capacity at local, sub-national and national level on various aspects of vehicle emission testing and maintenance system ;
- Assess various options to improve existing vehicle inspection and maintenance system including involvement of private sector, local governments ;
- Design detail implementation framework for selected option involving all key stakeholders and highlighting short-term, medium-term and long- term targets/commitments/activities/measures;
- Advocate through policy level discussion with government agencies to implement more efficient vehicle inspection and maintenance system.
The suggested key action points are:
Step 1: Formulation of High Level Advisory/Coordination Body:
The foremost priority action is to identify relevant and key government agencies, private sectors, academic institutions, NGOs, INGOs, and Civil society to set up High Level Advisory/Coordination Body. Department of Transport under the Ministry of Transport and Labor, Ministry of Environment, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police, respective municipalities, Associations of Vehicle Entrepreneurs, Nepal Vehicle Dealers Association, Consumer Forums are some prominent institutions. This body shall provide necessary policy, political and institutional backstopping for the smooth implementation of the vehicle inspection and maintenance system.
Step 2: Situation Analysis
The second step is to gather, analyze and organize data and information on existing vehicle inspection and maintenance system in the valley and to identify major issues, challenges, gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Step 3: Sharing and Learning from International Initiatives
- Various international and regional initiatives on vehicle emission control should be identified and assessed to explore the possibility of replicating applicable components in the context of Nepal.
- Discussions among local, national, international experts and policy makers (e.g. via email, discussion forums, webinars) should be facilitated on good practices, experiences and lessons learned.
- International exposure visits for selected policy makers and stakeholders should be organized to learn about real ground level work around the region and bring home useful knowledge and skills.
Step 4: Assess Various Options to Improve Existing Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance System
There are some options available to improve the existing practice of inspection and maintenance of vehicles in the valley. These options include reforming the existing inspection system, delegating authority to local municipalities or franchising the vehicle inspection process to the private sector. However, all of these options should be assessed and compared thoroughly before recommending the best option for the valley.
Step 5 : Formulate Detail Program Implementation Framework for Selected Option
The selected option must be technologically fit, economically viable, socially acceptable and politically justifiable.
Step 6 : Formulation of Communication Strategy and Designing Awareness Raising program for Different Target Audience
The local community, civil society and media have a crucial role in creating public pressure to improve the air quality of Kathmandu Valley. The media can sensitize and educate the local communities on the hazards of air pollution so that they are willing to take on more responsibility to reduce emissions and demand improvement on air quality of the valley. Some examples include taking care of emissions that is produced from the vehicles they are riding; giving proper attention towards regular maintenance of vehicles they own; and raise voice against vehicular pollution. In this backdrop, there is a need to formulate communication strategy and design awareness raising program on vehicular pollution.
[1] Department of Transport.2008.
[2] Ministry of Environment. 2008.
[3] Ministry of Environment. 2005.
[4] Gautam, Chiranjivi. 2006. Final Report on Action Program on Air Quality Management of Kathmandu Valley. Report submitted to Ministry of Science, Environment and Technology.
[5] Clean Energy Nepal.2004. Kathmandu’s Air Quality. Fact sheet prepared by CEN.
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