Table of contents | |
Introduction | |
Indian Policies Requiring EIA | |
The EIA Cycle and Procedures | |
Salient Features of the 2006 Amendment | |
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020 |
Environmental protection and sustainable development have served as the fundamental principles guiding the policies and procedures regulating industrial and other developmental activities in India.
Initially, the assessment covered projects requiring approval from the Public Investment Board, but these were administrative decisions lacking legislative support.
In 1986, the Government of India enacted the Environment (Protection) Act to address environmental concerns comprehensively.
As part of the Act's objectives, a decision was made to make environmental impact assessment a statutory requirement.
Under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the Government issued various notifications related to specific geographical areas, extending beyond the general EIA.
These notifications included prohibitions on industries within specific belts, restrictions in ecologically sensitive regions, and the classification of coastal stretches as coastal regulation zones with corresponding prohibitions.
Notable instances include restrictions in the Raigarh district of Maharashtra, the Doon Valley, coastal regulation in various stretches, Dahanu Taluka in Maharashtra, specified areas in the Aravalli Range, and the north-western region of Numaligarh in Assam.
The measures aimed to regulate industrial and other activities that could lead to pollution and congestion, providing a comprehensive framework for environmental protection in diverse regions.
Scoping involves detailing the terms of reference for the EIA. This task is undertaken by the consultant in collaboration with the project proponent, with guidance, if necessary, from the Impact Assessment Agency.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has issued sector-wise guidelines (comprehensive terms of reference) delineating significant issues to be addressed in EIA studies.
Quantifiable impacts are assessed based on magnitude, prevalence, frequency, and duration, while non-quantifiable impacts (e.g., aesthetic or recreational value) are evaluated through socio-economic criteria.
Once areas with potentially significant impacts are identified, the baseline status of these areas should be monitored. Subsequently, predictions should be made regarding the anticipated changes in these areas due to the construction and operation of the proposed project.
Impact prediction involves mapping the environmental consequences of the significant aspects of the project and its alternatives. Predicting environmental impact can never be done with absolute certainty, underscoring the importance of considering all possible factors and taking precautions to reduce uncertainty to the greatest extent possible.
The project's impacts should undergo assessment in the following categories:
Air
Noise
Water
Land
Biological
2. Impact on Economic Status:
Breeding and Nesting Grounds
Identify and compare potential alternatives for both project location and process technologies, considering a no-project option. Rank alternatives to select the most environmentally favorable option.
Develop a mitigation plan for the chosen option, supplemented with an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for enhanced environmental practices. The EMP is crucial for monitoring clearance conditions, with detailed monitoring specifics included.
Provide clear information in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on different environmental scenarios:
Anyone anticipated to be impacted by the proposed project has the right to obtain the Executive Summary of the EIA. Potentially affected individuals may encompass:
Environmental Groups
These individuals are entitled to present oral or written suggestions to the State Pollution Control Board, providing them with an opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process.
These features include the decentralization of environmental clearance for developmental projects into two categories: Category A and Category B.
After the 2006 Amendment, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) cycle involves four stages:
Category A projects necessitate mandatory environmental clearance and do not undergo the screening process. On the other hand, Category B projects undergo the screening process and are classified into two types:
While Category A projects and Category B projects (Mandatory requires EIA) undergo the complete EIA process, Category B projects (Do not require EIA) are excluded from the complete EIA process.
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020, introduced under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), replaces the 2006 notification.
Key provisions of the 2020 EIA Notification include:
97 videos|203 docs|53 tests
|
1. What are the Indian policies that require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)? |
2. What is the EIA Cycle and Procedures? |
3. What are the salient features of the 2006 Amendment to the EIA Notification? |
4. What is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020? |
5. How does the EIA help in environmental decision-making? |
|
Explore Courses for UPSC exam
|