New Delhi, The National Green Tribunal has allowed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 10 weeks to standardise the methods for testing three new parameters or pollutants in ambient air.
The three new pollutant in ambient air are aluminium, iron and silica.
At present, the top pollution watchdog tracks 12 major pollutants under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
These are Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ammonia (NH3), Ground-level Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Lead (Pb), Benzene, Benzo (a)pyrene, Arsenic and Nickel.
The CPCB submitted a report to a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad, which was hearing a matter regarding a cement factory in Haryana allegedly violating environmental norms.
In an order dated August 21, the bench said, “CPCB in the report has further sought eight weeks to standardise the methodology for sampling and analysis of the additional parameters, namely Aluminium, Iron & Silica in ambient air.”
It cited the report according to which “…CPCB is in the process of standardising the methodology for sampling and analysis of the additional parameters, namely Aluminum, Iron & Silica in ambient air, which may take another eight weeks’ time”.
“Therefore, it is humbly prayed that 10 weeks may be granted to CPCB for standardising the methodology, collection and analysis of fresh samples for Aluminum, Iron & Silica in the ambient air,” it said.
The green panel allowed the prayer and scheduled the next hearing for November 17.
