The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem has been identified as one of the world's sixty-four Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) sharing a distinct bathymetry, hydrography, productivity, and tropically dependent population. The BOBLME Project involves eight countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand with the primary goal of enhancing the livelihood security of coastal population of these countries. This is a coordinated, cross-region, programme of action of all the eight countries through improved regional management of the Bay of Bengal environment and its fisheries.

Country reports updating the current status of coastal (land based) pollution and water quality criteria in the Bay of Bengal region was initiated in April 2010. This report reviews past trends and current status of coastal pollution and recommends priority actions along the Bay of Bengal coast of India. One of the goals of this review is to enhance the current understanding of coastal and marine pollution and the various criteria prevalent to combat pollution on India's Bay of Bengal coast.

Data presented in this review is drawn from multiple published sources and has been interpreted systematically using GIS and Ocean Data View. Supporting documentation on legislations, governance and policy issues have also been consulted and synthesized for better understanding on India's efforts to combat coastal and marine pollution.