The environmental clearance process is required for 39 types of projects and covers aspects like screening, scoping and evaluation of the upcoming project. The main purpose is to assess impact of the planned project on the environment and people and to try to abate/minimize the same.
The process is summarized in Figure 2.1: Environmental clearance process in India.
.jpg)
Industrial projects located in any of the following notified ecologically fragile/sensitive areas would require environmental clearance irrespective of the type of project:
• Religious and historic places
• Archaeological monuments
• Scenic areas
• Hill resorts
• Beach resorts
• Coastal areas rich in mangroves, corals, breeding grounds of specific species
• Estuaries
• Gulf areas
• Biosphere reserves
• National parks and sanctuaries
• National lakes and swamps
• Seismic zones
• Tribal settlements
• Areas of scientific and geological interest
• Defence installations, specially those of security importance and sensitive to pollution
• Border areas (international)
• Airports
PUBLIC HEARING
Involvement of the public is one of the fundamental principles of a successful EIA process. It not only provides an opportunity to those directly affected by a project to express their views on the environmental and social impacts of the proposal but also brings about transparency in the environmental clearance system. Nearly all EIA systems make some sort of provision for public involvement. This could be in the form of public consultation (or dialogue) or public participation (which is a more interactive and intensive process of stakeholder engagement).
The public consultation process ensures an equitable and fair decision-making process resulting in better environmental outcomes. The type of consultation, whom to consult during EIA activities, when and how to do so and who should do it all vary significantly from project to project. This depends on the needs of the project. However, it is an important component for all kinds of project. This is because public consultations help allay the concerns of the local community, and reduce inaccurate information in the EIA report.
In India, the role of the public in the entire environment clearance process is quite limited. Public consultation happens at a very late stage when the EIA report is already prepared and the proponent is about to present it to the review committee for clearance. This means that the EIA study is unable to take into account the concerns and issues important to public. Even if the members of the community raise certain issues in the public hearing process, they have no means of knowing if it actually gets addressed in the final EIA report as they have no access to it. There are several weaknesses in the public hearing process as it exists now. Instead of becoming a participatory forum it has become a mere procedure.
There have been several cases in the past that have shown that the public hearing process has failed to meet its objective of effectively involving people in the clearance process. Several means have been devised to keep the public away such as poor circulation of notice, politics, etc.
Tags: Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Public Hearing.
Nice post