Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

❖ Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management

tool for ensuring the optimal use of natural resources for
sustainable development.
▪ A beginning in this direction was made in our country (INDIA)
with the impact assessment of river valley projects in 1976-77
and the scope has subsequently been enhanced to cover other
developmental sectors such as industries, thermal power
projects, mining schemes, etc.
▪ To facilitate the collection of environmental data and preparation
of management plans, guidelines have been evolved and circulated
to the concerned Central and State Government Departments.
▪ EIA has now been made mandatory under the Environmental
Protection Act, 1986 for 29 categories of developmental
activities involving investments of Rs. 50 crores and above.
❖ The main goal of EIA is to conserve the environment and bring out the
best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Continuation)
❖ Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is one of the tools available
with planners to achieve the goal of harmonizing development
activities with the environmental concerns.
❖ EIA integrates the environmental concerns in the developmental
activities right at the time of initiating for preparing the feasibility report.
In doing so it can enable the integration of environmental concerns
and mitigation measures in project development. EIA can often
prevent future liabilities or expensive alterations in project design.
❖ The objective of EIA is to foresee the potential environmental
problems that would arise out of a proposed development and address
them in the project’s planning and design stage.
❖ EIA/ Environment Management Plan (EMP) assists planners and
government authorities in the decision-making process by identifying
the key impacts/ issues and formulating the mitigation measures. EIA
is a planning tool which is accepted as an integral component of sound
decision-making.
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Continuation)
❖ Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoE&F) has taken several
policy initiatives and enacted environmental and pollution control
legislations to prevent indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources
and to promote integration of environmental concerns in
developmental projects. One such initiative is the Notification on
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of developmental projects
1994 under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act,1986.
❖ The environmental impact assessment in India was started in
1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the then Department
of Science and Technology to examine the river-valley projects from
an environmental angle. This was subsequently extended to cover
those projects, which required approval of the Public Investment
Board. These were administrative decisions and lacked legislative
support. The Government of India enacted the Environment
(Protection) Act in 1986. To achieve the objectives of the Act, one of
the decisions that were taken is to make environmental impact
assessment statutory.
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Q) What is Environmental Impact Assessments?
❖ It is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a
proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related
socio-economic, cultural, and human-health impacts, both beneficial
and adverse.
▪ EIA is a tool used to assess the positive and negative
environmental, economic, and social impacts of a project. This
is used to predict the environmental impacts of a project in the
pre-planning stage itself so that decisions can be taken to reduce
the adverse impacts.
(OR)
❖ Environmental assessment evaluates how a proposed project might
impact nature, air, water, and local communities before it starts.
Its goal is to identify and address potential problems to protect the
environment while supporting responsible development.
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Q) When did EIA start in India?
❖ EIA started in India in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission
directed the Department of Science & Technology to assess the river
valley projects from the point of view of the environment. It was later
extended for all those projects that required approval from the
Public Investment Board.
Q) Who is responsible for EIA in India?
❖ The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), Government
of India, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986,
promulgated an EIA notification making Environmental Clearance
(EC) mandatory for expansion or modernization of any activity or for
setting up new projects. This decision was taken on January 27,
1994.
❖ The EPA (1986) in particular established EIA as a legal requirement
for upcoming development activities.
 Purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

1) To systematically examine both beneficial and adverse

consequences of the proposal.
2) To ensure that consequences are taken into account during project
design.
3) To identify possible environmental effects of the proposal and
steps to mitigate them.
4) To predict whether there will be significant adverse effects even
after the mitigation.
5) To lessen conflicts by promoting community participation and
informing decision-makers.
 Benefits of EIA
The benefits of environmental impact Assessment are as follows
1) Reduced cost and time of project implementation.
2) Cost-saving modifications in project design.
3) Increased chances of project acceptance.
4) Avoid environmental impacts and violations of laws and regulations.
5) Improved project performance.
6) Avoided treatment/clean-up costs.
Benefits to local communities from taking part in environmental
assessments include
a) A healthier local environment (forests, water sources, agricultural potential,
recreational potential, aesthetic values, and clean living in urban areas),
b) Improved human health,
c) Maintenance of biodiversity,
d) Decreased resource use,
e) Fewer conflicts over natural resource use,
f) Increased community skills, knowledge and pride.
 Limitations of EIA
The limitations of Environmental Impact Assessment are as follows:
1) EIA process provides advice to the decision-makers; it does not
provide a final decision.
2) The predicted adverse effects on the environment might lead to
strict conditions being imposed to avoid these effects or remedy for
any adverse effects, or perhaps lead to the complete abandonment of
a proposal.
3) EIA requires the scientific (technical) and various issues to be dealt
with in a single assessment process which is bulky/complicated.
4) The implementation of the environmental policy focused on the EIA,
and this led to an overburdening process.
5) Public consultation and public participation are limited.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Cycle and Procedures
EIA represents
a systematic
process that
examines the
environmental
consequences
of the
development
actions in
advance. The
emphasis of an
EIA is on
prevention and
therefore it is
more proactive
than reactive
in nature.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Cycle and Procedures
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Cycle and Procedures
Steps of EIA
The EIA process in India is made up of the following phases
❖ Screening
❖ Scoping
❖ Baseline data collection
❖ Impact prediction
❖ Assessment of alternatives, outlining of mitigation measures, and
environmental impact statement
❖ Public hearing
❖ Environment Management Plan
❖ Decision making
❖ Monitoring the clearance conditions
 Steps of EIA (Repeat)
The various steps of the Environmental Impact Assessment process are:
1) Screening: Determines whether a project requires an EIA based on its size and
potential impacts.
2) Scoping: Identifies the key issues and impacts to be assessed in the EIA.
3) Impact Assessment: Evaluate the potential positive and negative impacts of the
project on the environment and compile the findings of the impact assessment into
a detailed report.
4) Description of the environmental baseline: This includes the establishment of
both the present and future state of the environment in the absence of the project
by taking into account the changes resulting from natural events and from other
human activities.
5) Public Participation: Engages stakeholders and the public to gather feedback
and address concerns.
6) Reporting: Finalizes and submits the report for review to regulatory authorities.
7) Decision-Making: Authorities review the assessment report and decide whether to
approve, modify, or reject the project.
8) Auditing and predictions of mitigating measures: This follows monitoring and
involves comparing actual outcomes with predicted outcomes. It provides a vital
step in the EIA process.