The centre is expected to start its operations within 2-3 months, which will be beyond the purview of WBPCB. It will offer solutions on environmental problems.

It has the support of the World Bank, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The agency is going to operate from the office of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. It will initially start with only three kinds of industries -- sponge iron, ferro-alloy and chemical -- but intends to expand in several other areas.

The WBPCB is also opening a public grievance cell, where people can file their complaints. "We are also about to start a cleaning operation in Howrah and have some specific programmes for Asansol and Durgapur," said Dipak Chakraborty, chief scientist, WBPCB.

The WBPCB has urged the industries to be cautious about the production of pollutants.