Nepal Unveils Rs 8.71 Billion Plan to Tackle Air Pollution

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Kathmandu, June 14: The government is moving ahead with a major initiative to improve air quality and reduce pollution across the country.

The Nepal Clean Air and Prosperity Project (NCAP) is set to be implemented from the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. The Rs 8.71 billion (USD 57 million) project aims to control air pollution, support the green transformation of industries, and promote clean air practices.

The project has moved closer to implementation after the World Bank approved a concessional loan of USD 52 million and a grant of USD 5 million.

Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyanraj Subedi, expressed confidence that the project would bring significant improvements to Nepal’s air quality management system.

According to Subedi, the project is expected to substantially reduce industrial pollution by supporting industries in their transition to clean energy sources.

“We are working to make the monitoring system more effective. As industries shift to clean energy, pollution levels are expected to decline significantly over the next five years,” he said.

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