Introduction
West Bengal Pollution Control Board like many other State Pollution Control Boards was constituted under the provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The next 25 years saw the enactment of various Federal Environmental Acts and Rules and the responsibility for implementation of the same was entrusted to the State Pollution Control Boards. Thus the major environmental issues were brought under the purview of environmental statutes and consequently the role of the Pollution Control Board was continually expanded.

• To plan comprehensive programme for the prevention, control and abatement of water and pollution.
• To advise the State Government on any matter relating to environmental pollution.
• To encourage, conduct and participate in research activities on environmental issues and disseminate the information available with the Board on the above subject.
• To inspect Pollution abatement system for liquid, gaseous and solid wastes for prevention, control and abatement of water, air and soil pollution.
• To lay down, modify or annual standards for sewage/trade effluent and for emissions of air pollutants from different point source.
• Implement the provisions of manufacture, storage and import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 for isolated storage of hazardous chemicals.
• To identify hazardous waste generating industries and implement provisions of Hazardous waste (Management) Rules, 1989.
• To assist District Collectorate to resolve issues relating to Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.

The Board started functioning with a very small infrastructure for implementation of the first Federal Environmental Act but expanded both its infrastructure and activities over the last decade for satisfactory discharge of its duties and responsibilities gradually entrusted on it. Board's major domain of activities include control of Water, Air, Soil, Ground Water pollution by combating point source discharges utilising the statutory instrument of the provisions of different Acts and Rules referred above. The industries require to take 'consent to operate' from the State Board annually, keeping its liquid, gaseous and solid discharges within the notified permissible limit. Industries generating hazardous waste are required to take authorization from the State Pollution Control Board, after complying with treatment, storage and disposal of their generated hazardous waste. The Board also oversees the implementation of the provision Manufacture, Storage and Import Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 as applicable to the process industries and isolated storage handling hazardous chemicals. The Board also assists in preparing contingency action plan for minimising human health and property damages from such possible chemical accidents to be prepared by district collectors with active cooperation from concerned industries.

West Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) continued its activity in controlling Noise Pollution from loudspeakers, sound generating fire works and industrial activities. The Board also organised many training programmes on sound pollution for personnel, NGOs and other concerned agencies.

The Regional Offices are headed by Environmental Engineers who are empowered to issue or refuse 'Consent to Operate' for Orange and Green Categories of industries whereas Member Secretary grants consent for Red Categories of industries.

Member Secretary grants authorisation under the provision of Hazardous (Waste Management) Rules, 1989 being assisted by an independent Hazardous Cell operating from the Head Quarter of the Board. This Cell is also responsible for inventrisation of hazardous wastes generating industries, surveillance of hazardous wastes management practice in individual industries, developing common hazardous wastes disposal facilities and processing application relating to import of hazardous chemicals wastes.

The prospective entrepreneur willing to set up their industries within the State or initiate any major developmental activities require to obtain 'Consent to Establish' (NOC) from pollution Control Board. The application for obtaining NOC is processed by an independent cell stationed at the head quarter.
The Board accords high priority to public perception about environmental quality and right of the common man to pollution in the "Public Grievance Cell" operating from its Head Quarter at Calcutta. The Public Grievance Cell arranges for inspection of the offending units by technical officers of the Board followed by public hearing for such cases to arrive at solution acceptable to both within a time frame.

The Board accords high priority to public participation in order to build a genuine environmental movement. The Board, particularly in the areas of awareness creation works in partnership with selected NGOs. The Board believes that it is easier to reach larger number of the population through inherent strengths that NGOs have in this respect.

Environmental Monitoring and Research Activities of the Board
The Board has a continuous programme of monitoring the Water Quality or rivers, lakes and canals and also monitoring the ambient air quality in major urban centres. The Board funded many research projects dealing with environmental matters. Notable among these is a project for identification and mapping of industries within Calcutta Metropolitan Area with the involvement of environmental wing of Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority. The outcome of the project will indicate, among other things, the major hot spots in Calcutta Municipal area, location of small and hazardous industrial units in populated localities. Their environmental status will help the Board in formulating action plan for in situ improvement of most units and the possible relocation of some of these units. The research activity involving development of low cost technologies of small polluting categories of industries also continued. Pollution abatement system of small Galvanising Units and Goldsmith could be developed. This will now be implemented in Small Galvanising and Goldsmithy units.