With reference to the Environment Impact Assessment, consider the foll...
Introduction:
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a crucial tool used to assess the potential environmental impact of development projects. It helps in decision-making by evaluating the environmental consequences of proposed activities and suggesting measures to mitigate negative impacts. In India, the EIA process is governed by the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986.
Statement 1: Environmental Clearance (EC) has been made mandatory for modernisation of any activity or for setting up new projects under Environmental (Protection) Act 1986.
This statement is correct. The Environmental (Protection) Act 1986 mandates that environmental clearance must be obtained for the modernisation or expansion of any existing activity or the establishment of new projects. This clearance is issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or the State-level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), depending on the scale and nature of the project.
The EC process involves the submission of a detailed project report by the proponent, which includes an environmental impact assessment study. The study assesses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, including its impact on air, water, land, flora, fauna, and human health. The report also includes a mitigation plan to address any adverse impacts identified. The competent authority reviews the report and grants environmental clearance only after ensuring that the project is environmentally sustainable and complies with the relevant laws and regulations.
Statement 2: It provides an exemption from the EIA requirements to certain industries based on the investment value of their projects.
This statement is incorrect. The EIA process applies to all projects, regardless of their investment value. There are no exemptions based on the investment value of projects. All projects falling under the specified thresholds, as determined by the MoEFCC, must undergo the EIA process to obtain environmental clearance.
The thresholds for different types of projects are periodically revised by the MoEFCC. The thresholds are based on various factors such as the potential environmental impacts, location, and scale of the projects. This ensures that projects with significant environmental implications are subject to a rigorous assessment process, regardless of their investment value.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while statement 1 is correct as environmental clearance is mandatory for modernisation and new projects under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, statement 2 is incorrect as there are no exemptions from the EIA requirements based on the investment value of projects. The EIA process applies to all projects falling under the specified thresholds, irrespective of their investment value.
With reference to the Environment Impact Assessment, consider the foll...
- The Indian experience with Environmental Impact Assessment began over 20 years back. It started in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-valley projects from an environmental angle.
- Till 1994, environmental clearance from the Central Government was an administrative decision and lacked legislative support.
- On 27 January 1994, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), Government of India, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for expansion or modernisation of any activity or for setting up new projects listed in Schedule 1 of the notification. Since then there have been 12 amendments made in the EIA notification of 1994. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- Issues with the Indian System o Screening ✓ Even though some of the industrial set ups do not require EIA as per the statutory norms, they might involve certain technological processes which could be harmful to the environment, as a result of which such enlisted industries could have potential impacts on the environment and on public health.
- Exempting industries from the EIA requirements based on the investment value of specific projects is not acceptable. There are no specific studies conducted till now which demonstrate that environmental impacts are always inconsequential for projects under a given value. It is a well established fact that the small scale industries are contributing more pollution with respect to the major industry. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
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