Date: March 11, 2026
Written By: Rahul Aryal and Yadav Singh Dhami
The winter of 2026 has transformed the Kathmandu Valley into an atmospheric prison. Due to its natural basin-like structure, encircled by steep hills, the valley experiences a severe temperature inversion during the colder months, trapping a dense layer of polluted air directly above the population. Close to four million people are now breathing this toxic mixture, their health compromised with every intake of breath. It is against this grim backdrop that aspiring researchers Mr. Rahul Aryal and Mr. Yadav Singh Dhami have witnessed a shocking incident of environmental mismanagement at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Forest in Kritipur. Evidence confirms that cleared undergrowth and vegetative residue were intentionally set on fire, sending thick columns of smoke into the already suffocating air. This action stands in direct violation of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Environment and Natural Resources Conservation Act. This law strictly outlaws open burning and carries penalties starting at NPR 10,000. For the nation's most prestigious educational institution to commit such an offense during a peak pollution crisis reveals a staggering lack of accountability.
On a local level, the consequences of this biomass ignition are immediate and visceral, directly endangering public health. The combustion of plant material releases a dangerous surge of fine particulate matter, specifically PM2.5, which are microscopic pollutants capable of infiltrating the deepest recesses of the lungs and entering the circulatory system. Within the enclosed geography of Kirtipur, these contaminants have no escape route. Instead, they linger in the air, invading the bodies of the student population, the teaching staff, and the families residing in the neighborhood. This added layer of pollution exacerbates chronic respiratory issues during a season when Kathmandu's Air Quality Index regularly plummets to "hazardous" levels, exceeding 300. The TU Forest, which should function as a clean air reserve, is instead being used as a site to generate additional toxins, turning a natural asset into a direct threat to the very community it is meant to serve.
The true devastation of this practice, however, extends far beyond the campus perimeter and manifests in the form of Black Carbon (BC). Classified as a short-lived climate pollutant, black carbon possesses a heat-trapping capability that, in the short term, dwarfs that of carbon dioxide. While CO₂ remains in the atmosphere for centuries, black carbon has a lifespan of only a few weeks, yet its destructive power is concentrated and severe. These particles absorb sunlight, warming the immediate atmosphere and amplifying the urban heat island effect across the valley. More alarmingly, these particles are light enough to be caught by prevailing winds and transported from the Kirtipur hillside to the high altitudes of the Jugal and Langtang mountain ranges. Upon setting on the frozen surfaces, the dark soot compromises the snow's natural reflectivity, a property known as albedo. This initiates a vicious cycle where the contaminated ice absorbs greater solar radiation, causing it to liquefy at an accelerated pace.
This connection between a campus clean-up and glacial retreat is not speculative but is firmly rooted in rigorous scientific observation. Research published by ICIMOD and Climate Trends reveals a terrifying trend: surface temperatures on snow in the Central Himalayas have escalated by over 4°C within the last twenty years. The study explicitly identifies the burning of biomass, and the resulting black carbon emissions, as a primary catalyst for this accelerated warming. Therefore, the smoke emanating from TU is physically journeying northward, settling on the Himalayan ice, and actively speeding up the dissolution of our most critical water towers. The fires in Kirtipur are not isolated incidents of waste management; they are direct contributions to a regional hydrological crisis, ensuring that the glaciers feeding our major rivers recede faster with each passing season.
The location of this incident magnifies its absurdity, transforming it from a mere administrative error into a profound ethical contradiction. The TU Forest is intended to be an ecological sanctuary, a "green lung" that filters pollution, shelters biodiversity, and acts as a natural reservoir for carbon. Incinerating its undergrowth destroys the intricate web of soil microorganisms, disrupts the natural nutrient cycle, and forcibly releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere. This is happening on the same campus that houses the Institute of Forestry (IOF) and the Central Department of Environmental Science faculties dedicated to producing experts in conservation and sustainability. There is an undeniable hypocrisy in delivering lectures on ecosystem management while simultaneously torching an ecosystem on university grounds. When our highest seat of learning fails to practice the principles it preaches, it delegitimizes the education it provides and sets a disastrous example for the nation.
Considering this, youth-led organizations like the Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) are demanding an immediate and complete overhaul of TU's land management strategies. The alternatives to burning are not complex or costly; they simply require the will to implement them. Cleared vegetation can be processed into nutrient-dense compost, returning vital organic matter to the forest floor and enhancing its regenerative capacity. Alternatively, this biomass can be compressed into bio-briquettes, providing a sustainable and cleaner energy source for campus facilities. By adopting these methods, enforcing existing environmental laws, and launching awareness initiatives, TU can transform its practices. The fires in Kirtipur may appear minor, but their repercussions travel vast distances, forging a tangible link between local negligence and the global climate crisis. This is a pivotal moment for our academic institutions to demonstrate genuine leadership, proving that they are committed to building a sustainable future rather than adding fuel to the fire that threatens to consume it.
Burning of chopped bushes inside the Tribhuvan University Forest.