Foreword
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981-an act of the Parliament-has been i made effective since May 16, 1981. The Air Act came seven years after the introduction of the i Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

The siting of a 6-million tonne a year crude processing oil refinery at 40 km away from Agra city in North-West direction near Mathura city caused concern in the mind of people at large and environmentalists in particular, in regard to the contribution of sulphur dioxide (SO2) by the refinery and the effect of the chemicalsonthe marbles of the treasured monument- Taj Mahal. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) who would manage the oil refinery claimed to contribute only 1 tonne ofSO2 each day which would only cause 1 to 2 microgram rise ofSO2 in every cubic metre of ambient air at Agra city where Taj Mahal is located.

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Many started questioning about the existing level of SO2 in the ambient air at Taj Mahal. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI}, Nag pur measured at several locations at Agra city and found an annual average of 17 microgram per cubic metre} of S02 in the ambient air of Agra city.

The two coal based thermal power stations, two railway marshalling yards operated by steam I engine, foundries were considered the major contributors to the problem of SO2 in Agra city. The Central Board's study team made a in-depth study into the relative contribution of SO2 by various activities in Agra city. The present report is the abridged version of the emission inventory of various activities including automobiles at Agra city.

As revealed in the emission inventory study the two thermal power stations and the foundries contribute equal amount of SO2 pollutant. The foundries contribute 60 percent of total SO2 contributed by all industrial activities in the Agra city.

The cooperation of the Department of Industries, Government of Ut tar Pradesh, Ut tar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, Agra Iron Foundries Association is gratefully acknowledged.

The Central Board's team who conducted the investigation under the overall planning and supervision of Dr. R.N. Bhattacharyya, Environmental Engineer is listed and their services are gratefully acknowledged.