EIA 2020: ‘Nothing disturbing’

A secretary in the environment ministry, RP Gupta has recently responded that nothing is disturbing in the clauses of the EIA Draft Notification 2020 in an interview.

Nevertheless, the issue has had a massive public outcry. The ministry has received enormous objection mails out of which over 95% of them were found repetitive. It was exposed that the ministry is also developing a monitoring mechanism of projects which will come as a second part to this draft notification. Quoting one of his response, “To discourage violations, the best way is to ensure fast-tracking of clearances.”

 

  

Public Engagement “?”

Under Environmental Impact Assessment 2020

Glad to see voices against the draft EIA notification 2020. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) unveiled the draft notification proposing amendments to the EIA notification 2006. First Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification was introduced in India during 1994 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which was later amended in 2006. The notification contains measures to be satisfied before commencing development projects to protect environmental consequences due to its implementation.

Broadly, the projects are classified under Category A, B1, and B2. The stages to obtain Prior Environment Clearance for projects under Category A, B1, and B2 are mentioned in Section 10. The proposed section provides for public consultations as a process. However, the draft notification has curtailed public engagement. This has brought a nightmare to the public.

The EIA 2020 also proposes a concept called strategic projects and Section 5 (7) exempts the availability of information related to those projects from the public domain. Those projects that are coined as strategic by the Central Government are exempted from public consultation. A concept called post-facto clearance also poses as a threat as projects functioning in violation would also be able to apply for clearance. EIA is also exempted for construction projects up to 150,000 sq. m. All these came as a shockwave curbing the merits of EIA and public involvement. The notification is open for public responses until 11th of August.

Many websites have been voicing against EIA and some have also been blocked for campaigning against. Petitions and forms circulates on social media to make our opinion count. It is high time we safeguard the purpose of EIA and intensify public engagement. Herewith, I’m attaching a link through which you can voice out your dissent towards EIA 2020!

(Civis collects all our responses and would share it with the concerned Government Department)

Requesting to keep us posted if you find other platforms to post our dissent!