Page 102 - DMGT302_FUNDAMENTALS_OF_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Unit 5: Environmental Appraisal of Projects

7. Pollution is mainly caused because of certain ....................... activities that are not suitable Notes
for the environment.
8. ....................... is the most harmful pesticide used in the farms. Use of this pesticide was
banned in most of the countries, but there are still some of the farmers that use DDT in
their farms.

9. A loud speaker should not be used except after obtaining written permission from the
.......................

5.5 Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment Process in India and the Drawbacks

EIA is an exercise to be carried out before any project or major activity is undertaken to ensure
that it will not in any way harm the environment on a short term or long term basis. Any
developmental endeavor requires not only the analysis of the need of such a project, the monetary
costs and benefits involved but most important, it requires a consideration and detailed
assessment of the effect of a proposed development on the environment.

The environment impact process was introduced with the purpose of identifying/evaluating
the potential beneficial and adverse impacts of development projects on the environment, taking
in to account environmental, social, cultural and aesthetic considerations. All of these
considerations are critical to determine the viability of a project and to decide if a project should
be granted environmental clearance.
An EIA concentrate on problems, conflicts and natural resource constraints which might affect
the viability of a project. It also predicts how the project could harm to people, their homeland,
their livelihoods, and the other nearby developmental activities. After predicting potential
impacts, the EIA identifies measures to minimize the impacts and suggests ways to improve the
project viability.

The aim of an EIA is to ensure that potential impacts are identified and addressed at an early
stage in the projects planning and design. To achieve this aim, the assessment finding are
communicated to all the relevant groups who will make decisions about the proposed projects,
the project developers and their investors as well as regulators, planners and the politicians.
Having read the conclusions of an environmental impact assessment, project planners and
engineers can shape the project so that its benefits can be achieved and sustained with out
causing adverse impacts.
In recent years, major projects have encountered serious difficulties because insufficient account
has been taken of their relationship with the surrounding environment. Some projects have
been found to be unsustainable because of resource depletion. Others have been abandoned
because of public opposition, financially encumbered by unforeseen costs, held liable for damages
to natural resources and even been the cause of disastrous accidents. Given this experience, it is
very risky to undertake finance, or approve a major project without first taking in to account its
environmental consequences and then siting and designing the project so as to minimize adverse
impacts.

Due to public pressure on the government to accept accountability for the activities of its agencies
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was formed in USA during 1970. This was the
basis for the development of a mechanism which came to be known as Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA).

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