The increasing pressure on the West Bengal government to clean up industrial pollution in the state has forced it to seek Japanese aid. Japanese experts will help the state government set up effluent treatment plants and upgrade the capabilities of the state pollution control board in line with growing needs.

In October, members of the Japanese international financing corporation met Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) officials in Delhi to finalise a study plan. Japanese experts will first evaluate the state's industrial pollution load before formulating a pollution control strategy. According to CPCB chairperson D K Biswas, "The modalities of the plan will be worked out in collaboration with the state environment ministry. Meanwhile, Japanese experts have begun the first phase of studying polluting industries."

The Japanese pollution control strategy will focus on small-scale units and is expected to work on the lines of similar World Bank-sponsored projects in other states.