Nepal, March 12 -- In recent days, the sky over the Kathmandu Valley has appeared more hazy than blue. When people wake up in the morning, distant hills are barely visible, and even when the sun shines during the day, the atmosphere feels covered by a layer of smog. Complaints of throat irritation while breathing and burning eyes have also increased.

The rise in air pollution levels in various parts of the country has also affected the Kathmandu Valley. According to the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, air pollution has reached unhealthy levels in areas including Ilam, Achham, Bhaisipati in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Ratna Park and Shankha Park in Kathmandu, the area around Tribhuvan University in Kirtip...