Urban Air Quality Management Strategy in Asia Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Kathmandu Valley Report Public Disclosure Authorized October 1996 Public Disclosure Authorized ~ Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program A World Bank Initiative URBAIR URBAN AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN ASIA KATHMANDU VALLEY REpORT Prepared by: Knut Erik Gronskei, Frederick Gram, Leif Otto Hagen, and Steinar Larssen, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Kjeller, Norway Huib Jansen and Xander Olsthoorn, Instituut voor Milieuvraagstukken (IVM), Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Anil S. Giri Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) Kathmandu, Nepal Madan L. Shrestha Dpt. of Hydrology and Meteorology, Min. of Water Resources, Kathmandu, Nepal Bimala Shrestha Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Edited by: Jitendra Shah and Tanvi Nagpal The World Bank, Washington, DC to 1997, The International Bank of Reconstruction and Development/THE WORLD BANK 18]8 H Street, N.W. Washington, D,C. 20433 U.S.A. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America First printing February] 997 The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this study are entirely those of the authors of this study and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated organizations, or to members of its Board of Executive Directors or the countries they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequence of its use. Any maps that accompany the text have been prepared solely for the convenience of the readers; the designations and presentation of material in them does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Bank, its affiliates, or its Board or member countries concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or of the authorities thereof or concerning the delimitation or its national affiliation. Likewise, the material in this report should not be attributed in any manner whatsoever to governments, non-governmental organizations, any other institutions or individuals who participated in the URBAIR studies and related workshops and meetings. The cover design is by Beni Chibber-Rao, Graphic and Map Design, General Services Department, The World Bank. The layout is by Julia Lutz, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Asia Technical Department, The World Bank. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COUNCIL URBAN ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Foreword Many Asian cities are on the threshold of a major environmental crisis in the form of air pollution. The deteriorating air quality in cities is a result of rapid economic expansion, rise in population, increased industrial output and unprecedented growth in numbers of passenger vehicles. The impacts of air pollution are well known: adverse health effects, rising health costs, damage to ecological and cultural properties, deterioration of built environment. In Kathmandu Valley cities, the main contributor of air pollution comes from the transport sector, followed by power plants, industrial units and burning of garbage. Fuel quality and engine conditions significantly influence the' level of air pollution. To arrest this growing problem, a concerted effort with public involvement is essential. Awareness of the issue, proactive policies, economically affordable standards and technologies and effective enforcement are key elements in an air quality management strategy. A long- run perspective shows that early adoption of policies for environmentally safer technologies can allow developing countries to resolve some of the most difficult problems of industrialization and growth at lower human and economic cost. Kathmandu Valley cities joined the World Bank-executed Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program (MEIP) in 1993. At the inter-country workshop held in Hawaii in 1990, the cities facing serious air pollution problems sought MEIP intervention to assist in finding solutions. In response to this, l.TRBAIR was conceived and launched in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal in 1993. URBAIR has assisted His Majesty's Government/Nepal, Environment Protection Council, Urban Environment Management Committee to develop a strategy and time- bound action plan for air quality management in Kathmandu Valley. For the first time, it brought together the different stakeholders -­ sectoral agencies, private sector, NGOs, academics, research bodies and media -- to formulate a strategy. From this group was formed the Technical Committee that deliberated for several months with technical support provided by a team of national and international experts. The outcome is the action plan included in this document. The result is truly impressive and His Majesty's Govemment/Nepal, Environment Protection Council, Urban Environment Management Committee is fuBy committed to the implementation of the plan. We will need the support of the international community in realizing the goals ofthe plan. I wish to acknowledge with gratitude all those who contributed to the development ofthe strategy and plan, especially to MEIP for facilitating the process. Umesh Bahadur Malla , Joint Secretary/MHPP Member Secretary Urban Environment Management Committee/EPC Kathmandu, ~epaJ III PARTNERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Many contributed to the URBAIR process. URBAIR core funds were provided by United Nations Development Programme, the Australian International Development Agency, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Mfairs, the Norwegian Consultant Trust Funds, and the Netherlands Consultant Trust Funds. Host governments and city administrations provided substantial input City studies were conducted by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) and the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) at the Free University in Amsterdam, with assistance from the selected local consultants: Mr. Anil S. Giri and Mr. Rishi Shah, Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology; Dr. Madan L. Shrestha, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, and Dr. Bimala Shrestha, Tribhuvan University. The city-level technical working groups provided operational support, while the steering committee members gave policy direction to the study team. The National Program Coordinator ofl\.1EIP-Kathmandu, Mr. Guru Bar Singh Thapa, contributed greatly to the successful outcomes. At the World Bank, URBAIR was managed by litendra Shah and Katsunori Suzuki, and under the advice and guidance ofMaritta Koch-Weser and David Williams. Colleagues from the World Bank Country Departments and Resident Mission helped with the program. Tanvi Nagpal was responsible for technical accuracy and editing. Management support was provided by Erika Yanick, Sonia Kapoor and Ronald Waas. Nicole Schofer and Sheldon Lippman provided editorial support. Many international institutions (World Health Organization, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Asia Environment Partnership) provided valuable contribution through their participation at the workshops. Their contribution made at the workshop discussions and follow-up correspondence and discussions has been very valuable for the result of the project. The following is a list of individuals, based in Kathmandu, who contributed to the URBAIR process and its outcome. • Mr. Murkesh Bhattarai, Ministry ofIndustry • Mr. M. Dehal, l\1EIPIMHPP • Mr. Surendra R. Devkota, Industrial Pollution Control Project, Ministry ofIndustry • Mr. Anil Shankar Giri, URBAIR Project Incharge, RONAST • Umesh B. MalIa, loint Secretary, MHPPlMember Secretary UEMCIMHPP • Mrs. Sony Pradhan, Field Expert, URBAIR Project, RONAST • Mr. Rishi ShahRONAST-Secretary • Toran Sharma, NESS-Brick Kiln Contribution to Air Quality • Dr. Madan Lal Shrestha, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology • Dr. Bimala Shrestha, Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj • Rohit Thapa, Vehicle Emission Control Program in the Kathmandu Valley • Dr. S.P. Sagar Thapaliya, Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police IV ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADT average daily traffic NIEMP National Industrial Energy AQG air quality guidelines Management Program AQMS air quality management system NOx nitrogen oxide CO carbon monoxide NPC National Planning Commission EIA environmental impact assessment PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ENPHO Environment and Public Health Pb lead Organization PM10 particulate matter of 10 microns EPC Environmental Protection or less Council ppb parts per billion ERV emergency room visits RAD restricted activity days gil grams per liter RHA respiratory hospital admission GDP gross domestic product RHD respiratory hospital diseases GNP gross national product RON research octane number H hypertension RON SAT Royal Nepal Academy of Science H2S hydrogen sulfide and Technology HC hydrocarbon RSD respiratory symptom days HMG His Majesty's Government SKO kerosene IES Institute for Environmental S02 sulfur dioxide Studies, Amsterdam S04 sulfate IPCR Industrial Pollution Control TSP total suspended particles Regulation UNDP United Nations Development KVVEPC Kathmandu Valley Vehicle Programme Emission Control Project UNEP United Nations Environment LDO light diesel oil Programme LPG liquefied petroleum gas URBAIR Urban Air Quality Management 6 J.lg microgram (10. grams) Strategy in Asia mg milligrams (l0·3 grams) USAID United States Agency for 3 Ilg/m particulate concentration in International Development micrograms per cubic meters VOC volatile organic compounds MEIP Metropolitan Environmental