INDIA: Ecological sensitive zone for purpose of ambient air quality standards


22.1.2010

Backgrounder

There is a procedure to declare Ecological Sensitive Zone for the purpose of ambient air quality standards. The guidelines for declaring sensitive areas have been recommended by Peer and Core group of Central Pollution Control Board (NPCB).They are as follows:

1) 10kms all around the periphery of health resorts that are notified by State Pollution Control Boards in consultation with department of public health of the concerned state.

2) 10kms all around the periphery of biosphere reserves sanctuaries and national parks that are notified by Ministry of Environment and Forest or concerned states.

3) 5 kms all around the periphery of an archaeological monument declared to be of national importance or otherwise that are notified by Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.) in consultation with State Pollution Control Boards.

4) Areas which are delicate or sensitive to air pollution in terms of important agricultural/ horticultural corps grown in that area and accordingly notified by state Pollution Control Boards in consolation with department of agriculture/horticulture of concerned State

5) 5kms all around the periphery of centre s of tourism and /or pilgrim due to their religious, historical, scenic or other attractions, that are notified by department of tourism of the concerned state in consolation with State Pollution Control Boards.

There are eight Ecologically Sensitive Areas of the Country. They are Dhanu Taluka (Maharashtra), Aravali range (Gurgaon of Haryana & Alwar of Rajasthan ), Murad-Janjira Area (Maharashtra), Doon Valley (Uttarakhand ), Numaligarh ( Assam), Mathern (Maharashtra), Taj-Trapezium Zone (Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan) and Mount Abu (Rajasthan ).

KP