Approach:

Introduction- Describe the negative impacts of haphazard development upon the environment connecting it to the utility of EIA and its definition.

Body- Write about detailed steps in EIA Procedure, and attempts for amendment in this process.

Mention criticisms of EIA. In a few lines mention some positives also.

Conclusion- Suggest a way forward regarding the balance between the environment and development.

Answer-

Increasing population and consequent rapid urbanization led to haphazard development in India thus impacting the air, water, and soil quality and affecting natural biodiversity, causing urban floods, heating island effects, etc. The recent Bengaluru flood is a perfect example of this.

Hence the role of EIA prior to the start of any developmental projects becomes of utmost importance.

It is a process to evaluate the potential impacts of a proposed project on the environment, human health, and communities. The goal is to identify and mitigate or avoid any negative impacts of the project, and to ensure that the project is developed in an environmentally sustainable manner. Statutorily backed by Environment Protection Act 1986 with notifications from time to time.

The procedure of Environmental Impact Assessment:

• Identification: to define a project and all the likely activities involved in its process.
• Screening to decide whether a project requires clearance based on the scale of investment, development type, etc.
• Scoping: It monitors baseline status in areas of change and predicts likely changes in the project in the early stages.
• Impact Assessment: To map environmental consequences and significant aspects of a project such as impacts on air, ambient noise, water, socio-economic etc.
• Assessment of Alternatives, Delineation of Mitigation Measures, and EIA report to identify alternatives and attribute environmental factors to them to compare and select. The mitigation plan is to reduce the impacts. The aim here is to provide a clear scenario to decision maker on scenarios and project alternatives.
• The public hearing stage is where the public is consulted on the proposed project.
• Environmental management plan( EMP) to delineate mitigation and compensation measures.
• Decision-making on the project.
• Monitoring of clearance conditions to observe compliance with commitments, and observe the correctness of predictions of EIA during both construction and operation phases.

The recent July 2022 changes in the EIA 2006 notification exempted highway projects of strategic and defence importance within 100 km of the line of control from the requirements of EIA. This calls for examining the EIA system in India.

Drawbacks in the system of EIA:

• Several projects with significant impacts are to be exempted from EIA requirements. An amendment of rules has provided such exemption by categorizing them into B2 category projects for example offshore and onshore oil and shale hydroelectric projects are now in the B2 category with significant environmental impacts.
• Poor composition of expert committees to study and form standards with a lack of exhaustive indicators for impact assessment.
• Lack of public consultation at an early stage with the exemption of significant projects from mandatory public hearings alongside the late release of documents to people not respecting indigenous knowledge of local people.
• Quality- Incomplete/false reports with ignoring several aspects like multiple seasons’ data with a prevalence of fraudulent studies.
• Lack of adequate accreditation of EIA consultants with allegations of collusion with project proponent as proponent has the responsibility to conduct EIA leading to conflict of interest.

The recent notification of rules in 2020, 2021, and 2022 has further led to allegations of dilution of the process. However, there is still hope for improvement by envisaging a data bank for impact assessment parameters, by standards for prior informed consent of people provisions for clearance recognizing their knowledge, improving monitoring and institutional arrangements like regional offices. There should be a collaboration with non-government stakeholders for capacity building, awareness, etc.

We should move towards the direction laid down by the judiciary recently in the Bengaluru case. It is essential that a proper balance is struck between sustainable development and environmental protection.