Nepal, March 12 -- Stepping onto the streets of Kathmandu without a mask and glasses means exposure to toxic vehicular fumes and dust. Kathmandu was the 5th most polluted city globally, as per Tuesday's IQAir ranking. Its rapid urbanisation isn't helping, as the valley is not only saturated with people but also getting filled with private and public vehicles that run on fossil fuels. To make matters worse, most of these vehicles have been running unchecked for years, spewing black smoke that poses serious health risks. According to reports, an average Nepali is losing about five years of life due to air pollution.

Given the situation, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Environment Department will bar polluting vehicles from the streets ne...