Page 103 - DMGT302_FUNDAMENTALS_OF_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Fundamentals of Project Management

Notes EIA Process in India

The role for EIA was formally recognized at the earth summit held at Rio conference in 1992.
Principle of the Rio declaration states that –
“EIA as a national instrument shall be undertaken for the proposed activities that are likely to have
significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority”.
In India many of the developmental projects till as recently as the 1980s were implemented with
very little or no environmental concerns. The environmental issues began receiving attention
when a national committee on environmental planning and coordination was set up under the
4 five year plan (1969-1978). Till 1980, the subjects of environment and forests were the concern
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of the Dept of Science and Technology and Ministry of Agriculture respectively.
Later, the issues were formally attended by the Dept of Environment which was established in
1980. This was then upgraded to the Ministry of Environment & Forest in 1985. In 1980, clearance
of large projects from the environmental angle became an administrative requirement to the
extent that the planning commission and the central investment board sought proof of such
clearance before according financial sanction.

Five year later, the Dept of Environment and Forests, Government of India, issued guidelines
for Environmental Assessment of river valley projects. These guidelines require various studies
such as impacts on forests and wild life in the submergence zone, water logging potential,
upstream and down stream aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water related diseases, climatic
changes and seismicity.
A major legislative measures for the purpose of environmental clearance was in 1994 when
specific notification was issued under section 3 and rule 5 of the Environment Protection Act,
1986 called the “Environment impact Assessment Notification 1994”.
The first step in seeking environmental clearance for a development project is to determine
what statutory legislations apply to the particular project. The MoEF has brought out several
notifications restricting the development of industries in specified ecologically sensitive areas.
In addition there are also draft rules framed for the siting of industries.
Environmental clearance for development projects can be obtained either at the state level or at
the central level depending on certain criteria concerning the characteristics of the project.
However (regardless of where the final environmental clearance is obtained from), for most
projects the consent must first be taken from the state pollution control board or pollution
control committees in the case of union territories.

Responsibility of Preparation of EIA Statement

The project proponent is responsible for the preparation of the EIA statement, with the help of
external consultant or institution.

The Impact Assessment Agency

The MoEF is the agency for environmental clearance. If necessary, it may consult a committee of
experts with a composition specified in schedule III of notification.

Timing of EIA

Ideally EIA should provide information to decision makers at early stage of the project planning
cycle. It should be initiated as early as possible before the commencement of projects. If the
projects secure approval, EIA should include a provision to cover the audit of the project.

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