Explain the concept and functions of environmental laboratories.

Section 12 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 empowers the Central Government to establish by notification in the official Gazette, one or more environmental laboratories or recognise one or more laboratories or institutes as environmental laboratories to carry out certain functions under the Act. Rule 9 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 specified the following functions of environmental laboratories: To evolve standardised methods for sampling and analysis of various types of environmental pollutants; To analyse samples sent by the Central Government or the Officers empowered under Sub-section (1) of Section 11; To carry out such investigations as may be directed by the Central Government to lay down standards for the quality of environment and discharge of environmental pollutants, to monitor and to enforce the standards laid down; To send periodical reports regarding its activities to the Central Government; To carry out such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government from time to time.