The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 25th June 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Its Basis

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Definition: A process defined by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to identify the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a project before implementation.
• Function:
  • Compares various project alternatives.
  • Predicts and analyses possible environmental repercussions.
  • Helps decide appropriate mitigation strategies.

Basis of an EIA

• Importance of Data: Comprehensive, reliable data is crucial for predicting future impacts.
• Baseline Data: Essential for accurate prediction of likely impacts.

Background of EIA Mechanism in India

Precursor to the EIA

• Initial Steps: Began in 1976-77 with the Planning Commission directing the Department of Science and Technology to assess river valley projects.
• Expansion: Later extended to projects requiring approval from the Public Investment Board.
• Early Environmental Clearance: Initially an administrative decision by the central government.

First EIA Notification (1994)

• Promulgation: Issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (EPA).
• Requirement: Made Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for specified new projects and for expansion or modernization of specific activities.

EIA Notification, 2006

• Amendments: The 1994 notification saw 12 amendments before being replaced in 2006.
• Decentralisation: The 2006 notification decentralised the EC process, giving state governments certain powers.
• Procedure and Set-Up: Detailed the procedure and institutional set-up for granting EC for listed projects.

Draft 2020 Notification

• Public Comments: Floated for public comments.
• Criticism: Criticised for being perceived as pro-industry and compromising ecological concerns.

Problems with India’s EIA Notifications

Uniform Threshold Limits

• Issues: The same threshold limits for EIA are applied across the country, ignoring regional differences.

Special Needs of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

• Overlooked: The vulnerabilities and fragility of the IHR are not considered separately.
• Draft 2020 Notification: Also failed to address the special developmental needs of the IHR.

Factors Affecting India’s EIA Mechanism

• Flawed Graded Approach: The EIA 2006 notification's graded approach does not adequately cover the IHR.
• Lack of National Regulator: No national-level regulator as suggested by the Supreme Court in 2011.
• Reactionary Process: EIA often reacts to proposals rather than anticipating them, favoring the project proponent.
• Cumulative Impact: Inadequate consideration of cumulative impacts from multiple projects in the same area.
• Box Ticking Approach: In many cases, EIA is performed as a mere formality rather than a thorough evaluation.

Consequences for the IHR

• Amplified Limitations: The inherent limitations of the EIA process are exacerbated in the IHR, with no consideration for its unique needs.

Other Challenges Associated with the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

About:

• Geographical Scope: Spread across 13 Indian States/Union Territories including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal.
• Demographics: Home to nearly 50 million people with diverse demographic, economic, environmental, social, and political systems.
• Attractions: Known for its towering peaks, majestic landscapes, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage, drawing visitors and pilgrims globally.

Challenges:

1. Environmental Degradation and Deforestation:

   • Deforestation: Extensive deforestation disrupts the delicate ecological balance.
   • Construction Impact: Rampant construction for infrastructure and urbanization leads to habitat loss, soil erosion, and disrupted water flow.

2. Climate Change and Disasters:

   • Climate Sensitivity: Highly sensitive to climate change, with rising temperatures causing glacier retreat and altering water resource availability.
   • Erratic Weather: Increased intensity of rainfall, erratic weather patterns, and prolonged dry spells impact ecosystems and local communities.
   • Natural Disasters: Susceptible to earthquakes, landslides, and flash floods.
   • Development Issues: Poorly planned development, lack of disaster-resilient infrastructure, and inadequate early warning systems amplify disaster impacts.

3. Cultural and Indigenous Knowledge Erosion:

   • Indigenous Communities: Home to diverse indigenous communities with unique knowledge and practices.
   • Modernization Impact: Modernization can erode cultural traditions that contain valuable insights for sustainable resource management.

Way Forward:

1. Nature-Based Tourism:

   • Sustainable Tourism: Develop sustainable and responsible tourism practices to generate income for local communities while minimizing environmental impacts.
   • Eco-Tourism: Promote eco-tourism, enforce carrying capacity limits, and raise awareness among tourists.

2. Glacial Water Capture:

   • Innovative Water Storage: Develop methods to capture and store meltwater from glaciers during summer months.
   • Water Management: Gradually release stored water during dry periods to support agricultural needs and downstream ecosystems.

3. Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation:

   • Comprehensive Plans: Develop comprehensive disaster management plans addressing landslides, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods.
   • Early Warning Systems: Invest in early warning systems, evacuation plans, and community training.

4. Greywater Recycling for Agricultural Enrichment:

   • Recycling Systems: Implement greywater recycling systems to collect and treat household greywater for agricultural use.
   • Sustainable Irrigation: Direct treated greywater to local farms for irrigation, providing a sustainable water and nutrient source to enhance crop growth.

5. Bio-Cultural Conservation Zones:

   • Conservation Areas: Designate specific areas as bio-cultural conservation zones to preserve both natural biodiversity and indigenous cultural practices.
   • Community-Environment Relationship: Maintain the intricate relationship between local communities and their environment through these zones.