What is EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), and what is its legal sanctity?
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management tool for ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development, and was introduced in India initially for River Valley Projects in 1978-79. The scope of the EIA has been enhanced to cover other developmental sectors such as industries, mining schemes, energy, etc. To facilitate project proponents in collection of environmental data and formulation of environmental management plans, it is now mandatory under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for 29 categories of developmental activities involving investment beyond certain thresholds (see Annexure 3)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management tool for ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development, and was introduced in India initially for River Valley Projects in 1978-79. The scope of the EIA has been enhanced to cover other developmental sectors such as industries, mining schemes, energy, etc. To facilitate project proponents in collection of environmental data and formulation of environmental management plans, it is now mandatory under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for 29 categories of developmental activities involving investment beyond certain thresholds (see Annexure 3)
The notification was issued on 27th
January 1994 and was amended on 4th May 1994. This, it is hoped would
provide an opportunity both for the project proponents and Government to
assess the impact of the concerned project on the environment before it
actually comes into play.
What is the purpose of
Environmental Impact Assessment and what projects really need detailed
Environmental Impact Assessment to be submitted under the Law?
The purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to identify and evaluate the potential impacts (beneficial and adverse) of development projects on the environmental system. It is an useful aid for decision making based on understanding of the environmental implications including social, cultural and aesthetic concerns which could be integrated with the analysis of the project costs and benefits. This exercise should be undertaken early enough at the planning stage of projects for selection of environmentally compatible sites, process technologies and such other environmental safeguards.
The purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to identify and evaluate the potential impacts (beneficial and adverse) of development projects on the environmental system. It is an useful aid for decision making based on understanding of the environmental implications including social, cultural and aesthetic concerns which could be integrated with the analysis of the project costs and benefits. This exercise should be undertaken early enough at the planning stage of projects for selection of environmentally compatible sites, process technologies and such other environmental safeguards.
While all industrial projects may have
some environmental impacts all of them may not be significant enough to
warrant elaborate assessment procedures. The need for such exercises
will have to be decided after initial evaluation of the possible
implications of a particular project and its location. The projects
which could be the candidates for detailed Environmental Impact
Assessment include:
i) Those which can significantly alter
the landscape, land use pattern and lead to concentration of working and
service population
ii) Those which need upstream development activity like assured mineral and forest products supply or downstream industrial process development
iii) Those involving manufacture, handling and use of hazardous materials
iv) Those which are sited near ecologically sensitive areas, urban centres, hill resorts, places of scientific and religious importance
v) Industrial estates with constituent units of various types which could cumulatively cause significant environmental damage.
ii) Those which need upstream development activity like assured mineral and forest products supply or downstream industrial process development
iii) Those involving manufacture, handling and use of hazardous materials
iv) Those which are sited near ecologically sensitive areas, urban centres, hill resorts, places of scientific and religious importance
v) Industrial estates with constituent units of various types which could cumulatively cause significant environmental damage.
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