Environment Impact Assessment EIA

Learning Outcomes:

1. Comprehend the significance and process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
2. Recognize the key components of Indian policies necessitating EIA.
3. Identify and evaluate the various phases of the EIA cycle in India.
4. Understand EIA components and the distinctions between comprehensive and rapid EIA.
5. Assess the drawbacks of the current EIA process and suggest recommendations for improvement.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Human activities for food security and other needs have led to environmental concerns. EIA serves as a planning tool to integrate environmental concerns into developmental projects at an early stage. Its goal is to foresee and address potential environmental problems, ensuring sustainable development options. The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoE&F) has introduced policies and regulations, including the EIA Notification of 1994, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to prevent resource exploitation and promote environmental integration in projects.

Indian Policies Requiring EIA

EIA in India began in 1976-77, initially focusing on river-valley projects. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 mandated EIA for projects and issued notifications covering specific geographical areas:

1. Tourism Prohibition: Restricted industrial locations in a 1 km belt along coastal and creek areas in Maharashtra (1989).
2. Doon Valley: Controlled mining and industrial activities (1989).
3. Coastal Regulation: Classified coastal stretches and prohibited certain activities (1991).
4. Dahanu Taluka: Restricted industrial activities in Maharashtra (1991).
5. Aravalli Range: Imposed restrictions in Haryana and Rajasthan (1992).
6. Numaligarh, Assam: Controlled pollution and congestion activities (1996).

Important Note: Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP), Sikkim, is India’s first “Mixed World Heritage Site,” listed by UNESCO for both natural and cultural heritage.

EIA Cycle and Procedures

The EIA cycle in India consists of the following phases:

1. Screening: Determines if a project requires environmental clearance based on investment, development type, and location.
2. Scoping: Details the terms of reference for the EIA, assessing quantifiable impacts (magnitude, frequency) and non-quantifiable impacts (aesthetic value).
3. Baseline Data Collection: Describes the existing environmental status of the study area using primary and supplementary data.
4. Impact Prediction: Maps potential environmental consequences, including impacts on air, noise, water, land, biological, and socio-economic aspects.
5. Assessment of Alternatives and Mitigation: Identifies project alternatives, ranks them, and prepares an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
6. Public Hearing: Involves informing and consulting the public post-EIA report completion, inviting comments and suggestions.
7. Decision Making: Based on EIA and EMP evaluation, involves the impact assessment authority.
8. Monitoring: Ensures compliance with clearance conditions during construction and operation.

Note: India ranks last in air quality for human health, as per the World Economic Forum.

Key Elements of the EIA Cycle

Screening

1. Screening Criteria: Investment scale, development type, and location determine the requirement for environmental clearance.
2. Regulatory Notifications: Projects need clearance if covered under EIA notifications.

Scoping

1. Terms of Reference: Established through consultant, proponent, and agency discussions.
2. Sectoral Guidelines: MoE&F’s guidelines dictate significant issues for EIA studies.
3. Baseline Monitoring: Post identification of impact areas, baseline status is assessed for predicted changes.

Baseline Data

1. Existing Status: Collected primary data describes the environmental status, supplemented with secondary data when available.

Note: India has the worst air pollution globally according to the World Economic Forum, ranking 132nd in “Air effects on human health.”

Impact Prediction

1. Air: Changes in ambient levels, effects on health, materials, and vegetation.
2. Noise: Impact on fauna and human health due to equipment noise and vehicle movement.
3. Water: Availability, quality changes, sediment transport, saline water ingress.
4. Land: Land-use change, waste disposal impact, shoreline stability.
5. Biological: Deforestation, habitat shrinkage, contamination impact on species.
6. Socio-Economic: Community impact, economic changes, traffic increase.

Assessment of Alternatives

1. Comparison: Environmental attributes are compared among alternatives.
2. Ranking: Alternatives are ranked for the best environmental option.
3. Mitigation Plan: Prepared for the selected option, included in the EMP for future monitoring.

Public Hearing

1. Public Consultation: Mandated post-EIA report completion, inviting local residents, associations, environmental groups for comments.
2. Access: Executive Summary made available to those likely affected.

Note: Supreme Court ruling mandates a 1% Environment Protection Charge on diesel vehicles above 2000 cc in Delhi-NCR.

Environment Management Plan (EMP)

1. Mitigation Measures: Defined for all significant impacts.
2. Physical Planning: Implementation schedule and budget estimates included.
3. Monitoring: EMP outlines compliance monitoring procedures.

Decision Making

1. Consultation: Involves project proponents, consultants, and impact assessment authority.
2. Evaluation: Based on comprehensive analysis of EIA and EMP.

Monitoring

1. Continuous Monitoring: Conducted during construction and operation phases to ensure compliance and validate predictions.

Salient Features of 2006 Amendment:

1. Decentralized Clearance: Projects categorized into Category A (national level) and Category B (state level).
2. Category B subdivided into:

• B1: Mandatory EIA requirement.
• B2: No EIA requirement.

EIA Comparison (Multi-Column Table):

Components of EIA

1. Air Environment: Impact zone determination, air quality monitoring, emissions estimation, impact prediction, pollution control measures.
2. Noise Environment: Current noise level monitoring, future noise level prediction, mitigation suggestions.
3. Water Environment: Groundwater study, water quality prediction, wastewater characterisation, pollution control evaluation.
4. Biological Environment: Flora and fauna assessment, impact on species due to pollutants, deforestation impact.
5. Land Environment: Soil characteristics, land-use changes, drainage pattern analysis, solid waste management.
6. Socio-Economic Environment: Data collection on demographics, health assessments, rehabilitation requirements.
7. Risk Assessment: Hazard identification, consequence analysis, disaster management planning.
8. Environment Management Plan: Mitigation measures delineation, implementation and monitoring schemes.

Important Concept: Urban Forestry Scheme aims to create “urban forests” in 200 cities to expand green cover.

Drawbacks and Recommendations

Drawbacks

1. Applicability: Several impactful projects bypass EIA due to lack of listing in Schedule 1 or lower investment.
2. Expert Committees: Lack of expertise in environmental fields; weak ecological and socio-economic indicators.
3. Public Hearing: Public comments not considered early; significant projects exempt from hearing.
4. Quality: EIA reports often incomplete, biased, with false data and one-season assessments.
5. Monitoring: EMP details often withheld; corrective measures lack specificity.

Recommendations

1. Independent EIA Authority: Ensure unbiased assessment.
2. Sector-wide EIAs: Comprehensive reviews.
3. Centralized Data Bank: Baseline data repository for cross-referencing.
4. Mandatory Public Hearing: Include previously exempt categories.
5. Quality Focus: Shift from resource utilization to conservation; enforce clear, standalone adverse impact reports.
6. Accreditation: Maintain credible EIA consultants; introduce national accreditation.

Note: PARIVESH is a Single-Window Integrated Environmental Management System for environmental clearances.

Multiple Choice Question:
Which Indian legislation mandates the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process?

1. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
2. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
3. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
4. Forest Conservation Act, 1980
   Answer: 2. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.