Government Prepares Strict Regulations for Polluting Industries
The government has drafted new standards titled ‘Wastewater Discharge Standards for Industrial Establishments 2083’ to prevent the discharge of toxic wastewater from industries and hospitals into rivers, ponds, and underground water sources. The draft mandates that hospitals cannot release untreated wastewater onto the land and imposes stringent tolerance limits on industrial contaminants such as mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, cyanide, and radioactive substances. The Ministry has invited stakeholders to provide feedback within 15 days, proposing the repeal of five outdated industrial wastewater standards. Kathmandu, 9 Bhadra.
In light of the severe impact caused by uncontrolled discharge of toxic wastewater from industries and hospitals into rivers, ponds, and underground water sources, the government has initiated efforts to strictly regulate this issue. Considering the serious effects on human health, aquatic life, and the overall environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment has released the draft ‘Wastewater Discharge Standards for Industrial Establishments 2083.’ The proposed standards include rigorous monitoring mechanisms specifically targeting hospitals and healthcare institutions to prevent pollution that can affect public health. No hospital will now be allowed to contaminate underground water sources by discharging untreated wastewater onto the land.
Similarly, the draft sets very strict tolerance limits for toxic elements found in industrial wastewater, including mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, cyanide, and radioactive substances— all known to be carcinogenic and harmful to the nervous system. The new standards classify industries based on the nature of their pollution and establish specific rules accordingly. Industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, tanning, textile dyeing, paint production, electroplating, soap making, sugar processing, dairy, vegetable ghee and oil, paper and pulp, and fermentation are particularly targeted due to their high pollution potential. According to the Ministry, industries will be allowed to discharge wastewater only within the prescribed limits, whether mixing with surface water, public sewers, or combined treatment plants.