New
Delhi - In a move to check air
pollution in the country,
India on Wednesday revised its national ambient air quality standards after 15 years, a news report said. "We have notified the ambient air quality standards in India which are equivalent to the European levels and exceeds the standard prevalent in the US," Federal Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was quoted by the IANS news agency as saying.
The revised ambient air quality standards provide a legal framework for the control of air pollution and the protection of public
health and any citizen can approach the courts demanding better air quality.
Under the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 12 pollutants will be measured compared to six in the previous regulations to calculate the level of air pollution, the report said.
The pollutants added to the list include ozone, arsenic, nickel and benzene.
The revised standards which will come into force immediately have been prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in consultation with the Indian Institute of Technology.
"The most important part of the revised standards is that distinction between
industrial and residential ares have been removed," Ramesh said.
"Now, industries have to conform to the same standards as residential areas and will be compelled to take necessary measures to check air pollution," he added.
