Afew days ago, a well dressed couple came and sat down on the open space in front of my residence. They spent a couple of hours in the sun; and when they departed, they left behind a pile of orange peelings and almond shells along with other litter as a mark of their presence there for a while. By polluting the ground, which was otherwise clean, the handsome couple mocked the sense of cleanliness of the residents. This is presented here as an example of the lack of common sense that has been developed in us due to long malpractices. And as a result, the sight of empty noodles packets, chocolate wrappings, pieces of paper and plastics and other trash dispersed in the city has become a familiar scenario.

There is hardly anything the common people can do to eliminate the widely lamented dust pollution prevailing in Kathmandu. But there are a lot of things that can be done by individuals to prevent further deterioration of the environment. Personal waste can be carried until the appropriate place to throw them is reached. Instead of dropping fruit peelings right under the stool while sitting in a park, one can take the trouble of carrying them to the rubbish bin. Everyone should become a bit more careful about how their activities can worsen the environment in which other people also need to survive. This is important since polluting public places matters more than dirtying our own houses.

Sometimes, people present themselves with such poorly cultured manners due to lack of awareness. But many people seem to be adopting these practices because they do not live in that particular place or are not planning to revisit it soon. These people know how their skin should be maintained in this or that season or which particular lotion is appropriate for their skin types. They are well dressed in clean and the most fashionable garments, and like to keep their cars stain-free. They are extra careful about protecting their cleanliness. In contrast, they do not hesitate to throw out an empty water bottle or a packet of rubbish from their car's window wherever they might be. This is an attitude that makes one think of only one's convenience without considering the difficulties other travellers might face due to their acts. 

Going to the toilet in the open has been prohibited and people both in the towns and villages nowadays adopt safer sanitary practices. However, open disposal of dirt anywhere is still something that seems to be allowed. Personal initiatives are important at a time when legal provisions for fining or punishing polluters are lacking. One loses the right to criticise the government or the metropolis for making the city dusty when one drops rubbish at a public place. Therefore, let's put in our individual efforts to make our city a better place to live in.