East China's Jiangsu Provincial government are taking measures to put the pollution by acid rain under control in the province.

The measures include intense supervision over the operation of 48 major coal-consuming power plants and other key industrial enterprises that release an excess of sulphur dioxide, a leading cause of air pollution.

These enterprises must meet the limits for sulphur dioxide emission by the end of June, a local official said.

Acid rain, which is blamed for the release of the industrial pollutants and sulphur dioxide from industrial enterprises, has been a threat to health in many cities and counties in the province. So far, 17 cities in Jiangsu have been included on the State acid rain control plan.

Statistics show that about 20 percent of the cities and counties in Jiangsu are affected by acid rain each year.

Rainfall with a pH (a measure of acidity and alkalinity) lower than 5.6 is regarded as acid rain in China.