Ministry of Population and Environment with the support from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the US Embassy in Nepal has set up a new Air Quality Monitoring Station at Ratna Park on Tuesday.

The monitoring station will measure airborne particulate matter (P.M 2.5) and pollution in the form of ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Another station was also set-up within the premise of the Embassy's Recreation Centre, Kantipath.

With the support of ICIMOD and the US Embassy the government plans to set up new stations in 56 identified locations throughout the country expecting to finish within a decade. It plans to add few more such monitoring stations in the Capital and Pokhara within the current fiscal year.

At present, the air quality monitoring stations have been set up at three locations in the valley including Pulchowk, Bhaktapur and Ratnapark and three locations outside the valley at Dhulikhel, Sauraha and Lumbini.