Which projects require EIA?

Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA as it is popularly known is primarily a decision making and management tool. It is required to assess the impacts (both positive and negative) that a project may bring on the environmental systems. In yet simpler terms, any activity (such as setting up and industry or constructing a mall) alters the environment where it is developed. Hence, in order to assess the possible alterations that the project may bring to its environment and surroundings an Environmental Impact Assessment is undertaken. Based on the findings of an EIA preventive measures are suggested and implemented to negate the adverse impacts that the project may entail. Although any activity brings a change in the environment, not all projects warrant an EIA study to be undertaken.  

In India, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), issued a notification on 14 September 2006, whereby it stated that  ‘the required construction of new projects or activities or the expansion or modernization of existing projects or activities listed in the Schedule to this notification entailing capacity addition with change in process and or technology shall be undertaken in any part of India only after the prior environmental clearance from the Central Government or as the case may be, by the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, duly constituted by the Central Government.

Further, the projects were divided into two categories - ‘Category A’ and Category ‘B’. Category A projects require prior environmental clearance from the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on the recommendations of an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), while Category B projects require prior environmental clearance from the State/Union territory Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The SEIAA is supposed to base its decision on the recommendations of a State or Union territory level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).

The notification further details the process of getting environmental clearance. The environmental clearance process for new projects comprise of a maximum of four stages, all of which may not apply to particular cases These four stages in sequential order are:-

·         Stage (1) Screening (Only for Category ‘B’ projects and activities)

·         Stage (2) Scoping

·         Stage (3) Public Consultation

·         Stage (4) Appraisal

The Screening process entails the scrutiny of an application seeking prior environmental clearance made in Form 1 by the concerned State level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) for determining whether or not the project or activity requires further environmental studies for preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its appraisal prior to the grant of environmental clearance depending up on the nature and location specificity of the project. The projects requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment report are termed Category ‘B1’ and remaining projects are termed Category ‘B2’ and will not require an Environment Impact Assessment report. Category A projects shall always require an Environmental Impact Assessment report.

Detailed scrutiny is conducted by the Expert Appraisal Committee or State Level Expert Appraisal Committee of the application and other documents like the Final EIA report, outcome of the public consultations including public hearing proceedings, submitted by the applicant to the regulatory authority concerned for grant of environmental clearance. On conclusion of this proceeding, the Expert Appraisal Committee or State Level Expert Appraisal Committee concerned makes categorical recommendations to the regulatory authority concerned either for grant of prior environmental clearance on stipulated terms and conditions, or rejection of the application for prior environmental clearance, together with reasons for the same.

The lists of projects that require EIA study is given in Schedule of the EIA Notification 2006. Since then the notification has been amended many times as per the requirement and  the re-categorisation of projects has also taken place.