Introducing Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA)
The Goal of EIA is to harmonise developmental activities
with the environmental concerns.
Objectives of EIA
To foresee the potential environmental problems that would
arise out of a proposed development and address them in the
planning and design stage of the Project.
The EIA process allows for the communication of potential
environmental problems to:
(a) the project proponent
(b) the regulatory agencies
(c) all stakeholders and interest groups
EIA – Its Evolution
Originated in the US in the late 60s
Spread to the developed world
Reached the developing world in the 80s
Funding agencies like World Bank adopted it in late 80s
EIA process formally adopted in India in 1994
Originally focused on environment alone
Later social and economic aspects added
The role for EIA was formally recognized at the
earth summit held at Rio conference in 1992.
Principle 17 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”.
Stages of an EIA
Pre feasibility stage
• Screening
Deciding whether or not an EIA is required
• Scoping
Identifying significant impact areas and defining terms of
reference for the EIA
Main EIA- ?
1- What will happen as a result of the project?
2- What will be the extent of the changes?
3- Do the changes matter?
4- What can be done about them?
5- How can decision makers be informed of what
needs to be done?
The EIA becomes a cyclic process of asking and further
asking the first four questions until decision makers can
be offered workable solutions.
Stages of an EIA
Feasibility stage
• Baseline data collection
Collecting all the information required for an impact
assessment
• Impact assessment
Conducting an extensive environment impact assessment
using all available information
Stages of an EIA
Design and engineering stage
• Mitigation and environment management plan
Designing a mitigation and environment management
plan for reducing impacts
Implementation and post monitoring stage
Implementation of the environment management plan and
monitoring of impact
Environment refers to the surroundings in which a
project is planned, implemented and operates
The Term environment includes
Land & Soil Hydrology
& Drainage
Environmental Water
Air Quality Attributes Bodies
Forests or
other
Archeological Religious & Ecosensitive
Assets Cultural Areas
Properties
Typical Assessment Includes
Impacts on
Human beings
Natural resources and resource use
Flora and fauna
Cultural heritage assets
Landscapes
Livelihood, local culture and economy
Health and safety
EIA- A Diagrammatic Model
Activity Environmental Managed
Impacts Measures
Attributes
Project - Activity Types
Direct
Indirect
Activity 1
Operation
Induced
Impacts: Generic Classification
Cumulative Reversible/
Irreversible
Direct/
Primary Positive/
Negative
Impacts
Short/Medium/
Indirect/ Long term
Secondary
Temporary/
Permanent
Local/ Widespread
Measures: Generic Classification
Avoidance`
Preventive
Mitigative Measures
Compensatory
Enhancement
Using an Effective and Appropriate Mix is important
Management
List of measures: description
Monitoring & reporting: description and how they should be done
and how they should be done
Roles, responsibilities and authorities: Managed
contractors, consultants & client
Orientation and Training Public/ Stakeholder
involvement
Components of an EIA
7. Analysis of
5. Public
Alternatives
consultations
2. Policy
Framework
Project-
Impacts Environmental Measures
Set of Managed
Activities Attributes
8. Management
3. Baseline Plan
studies
1. Project
6. Remedial
Description 4. Impact
measures
analysis
EIA – Three core values
1. Integrity
Should be fair, objective, unbiased and balanced
2. Utility
Provide balanced and credible information for
decision-making
3. Sustainability
Result in environmental safeguards
EIA- Its Principles
Purposive – Meeting its aims and objectives
Focused – Concentrating on significant environmental effects
Adaptive – Responding to issues and realities
Participative – Fully involving the public
Transparent – Clear and easily understood
Rigorous – Employing best practicable methodology
Practical – Establishing mitigation measures that work
Credible – Carried out with objectivity and professionalism
Efficient – imposing least cost burden on proponents
EIA – Types
1. Rapid EIA
Short study for projects with limited adverse impact
Data for only one season (other than monsoon)
2. Comprehensive EIA
Long term study for projects with adverse impact
Data collected for three seasons (other than monsoons)
EIA Scenario in India
Environmental clearance from the Central Government is required for 32
categories of developmental projects broadly categorized under the
following industrial sectors
Mining
Thermal power plants
River valley
Infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports)
Industries including very small electroplating or foundry units
Certain activities permissible under the Coastal Regulation Zone Act, 1991 also
require similar clearance.
Donor agencies operating in India like the World Bank and the ADB have a different
set of requirements for giving environmental clearance to projects that are funded
by them.
List of projects requiring environmental clearance
1. Nuclear power and related projects such as heavy water plants, nuclear fuel complex, rare
earths.
2. River valley projects including hydel power, major irrigation and their combination
including flood control (even if investment is less than 100 crores but command area is
more than 10,000 ha).
3. Ports, harbours and airports (except minor ports and harbours).
4. Petroleum refineries including crude and product pipelines.
5. Chemical fertilizers (nitrogenous and phosphatic other than single super phosphate).
6. Pesticides (technical) and intermediates.
7. Petrochemical complexes (both Olefinic and Aromatic) and petro-chemical intermediates
such as DMT, Caprolactam, LAB, etc., and production of basic plastics such as LLDPE,
HDPE, PP, PVC.
8. Bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals and intermediates.
9. Exploration for oil and gas and their production, transportation and storage.
10. Synthetic rubber.
11. Asbestos and asbestos products.
12. Hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives.
13. (a) Primary metallurgical industries (such as production of Iron and Steel, Aluminium,
Copper, Zinc, Lead and Ferro Alloys), (b) Electric arc furnaces (Mini steel plants).
14. Chlor alkali industry.
15. Integrated paint complex including manufacture of resins and basic raw materials required
in the manufacture of paints.
16. Viscose staple fibre and filament yarn.
17. Storage batteries integrated with manufacture of oxides of Lead and Lead Antimony alloys.
18. All tourism projects between 200 m and 500 m of high water line and at locations with an
elevation of more than 1000 m with investment of more than Rs. 5 crores.
19. Thermal power plants.
20. Mining projects (major minerals) with leases more than 5 ha.
21. Highway projects (except projects relating to improvement work including widening and
strengthening of roads with marginal land acquisition along the existing alignments
provided it does not pass through ecologically sensitive areas such as national parks,
sanctuaries, tiger reserves and reserve forests).
23. Distilleries.
24. Raw skins and hides
25. Pulp, paper and newsprint.
26. Dyes and intermediates.
27. Cement.
28. Foundries (individual).
29. Electroplating.
30. Meta amino phenol (added in 2000).
31. New townships, industrial townships, settlement colonies, commercial complexes, hotel
complexes, hospitals, office complexes for 1000 persons and above or discharging sewage
of 50,000 l/day and above or with an investment of Rs. 50 crores and above (added in
2004).
32. New industrial estates having an area of 50 ha and above and the industrial estates
irrespective of area if their pollution potential is high (added in 2004).2. Tarred roads in the
Himalayas and or forest areas.
Environmental
Clearance Process
for Building
Projects
( Modified as per new
notification issued on
9/12/2016)
EIA Process in India
Screening
Scoping and consideration of alternatives
Baseline data collection
Impact prediction
Assessment of alternatives, delineation of mitigation measures and
environmental impact statement
Public hearing
Environment Management Plan
Decision making
Monitoring the clearance conditions
Institutions involved in EIA Process
Schedule III of EIA Notification, 1994
Composition of the expert committees for EIA
1. The committee will consist of experts in the following fields:
i. Eco-system management
ii. Air/water pollution control
iii. Water resource management
iv. Flora/fauna conservation and management
v. Land use planning
vi. Social sciences/rehabilitation
vii. Project appraisal
viii. Ecology
ix. Environmental health
x. Subject area specialist
xi. Representatives of NGOs/persons concerned with environmental issues
2. The chairman will be an outstanding and experienced ecologist or environmentalist
or technical professional with wide managerial experience in relevant development
sector.
3. The representative of IA will act as a member secretary.
4. Chairman and members will serve in their individual capacities except those specifically
nominated as representative.
5. The membership of the committee shall not exceed 15.
EIA Process
