Module 1

Presented By;
Mr. Vysakh K V
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mail ID: [email protected]
Syllabus
 Definition
 Need for EIA
 Evolution of EIA
◦ Global & Indian scenario
 Environmental legislations in India
 The Water Act 1974,
 The Air Act 1981,
 The Environmental Act 1986
 Environmental standards for
◦ Water
◦ Air
◦ Noise quality
 EIA Notification 2006
Definition
 Environmental impact Assessment is an activity carried out
to determine and minimize the impact of any project on
physical, chemical, biological parameters of environment and
also on human health is termed as “Environmental
Impact Assessment”.
 The main aim of environmental impact Assessment is to
determine the overall impact of project on
environment.
Need for EIA
 To disclose significant environmental effects of proposed
projects to decision- makers and the public.
 To identify ways to avoid or reduce environmental damage.
 To prevent adverse environmental impacts by requiring
implementation of feasible alternatives or mitigation
measures.
 To disclose reason of approvals for the projects with
significant environmental impacts to the public.
 To enhance public participation.
Importance of EIA
 Link the environment with sustainable development.
 Provides a cost-effective method to eliminate or minimize
the negative impact of developmental projects.
 To encourage the adaptation of mitigation strategies in the
developmental plan.
 To empower the policy-makers to analyze the impacts of
developmental activities on the environment well before the
implementation of the project.
 To ensure that the development project is within the limits
of regeneration of the ecosystem and it is environmentally
sound.
Limitations of EIA
 It is time-consuming.
 Compliance monitoring after Environmental Impact
Assessment is seldom carried out, with too much focus on
scientific analysis.
 Public comments are not considered at an early stage, which
often leads to conflict at a later stage of project clearance.
 Details regarding the effectiveness and implementation of
mitigation measures are often not provided.
 The general process of EIA is applicable in various countries,
still not able to address biodiversity adequately.
Evolution of EIA
 Environment Impact Assessment in India is statutorily backed
by the Environment Protection Act, 1986 which contains
various provisions on EIA methodology and process.
 In 1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the
Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-
valley projects from an environmental angle.
 Till 1994, environmental clearance from the Central
Government was an administrative decision and lacked
legislative support.
 On 27 January 1994, the then Union Ministry of Environment
and Forests, 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 listed in
Schedule 1 of the notification.
Evolution of EIA (Conti.)
 The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) notified new EIA legislation in September 2006.
 The notification makes it mandatory for various projects
such as mining, thermal power plants, river valley,
infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbors and airports)
and industries including very small electroplating or foundry
units to get environment clearance.
 However, unlike the EIA Notification of 1994, the new
legislation has put the onus of clearing projects on the state
government depending on the size/capacity of the project.
The Water Act of 1974
 Its objective is to provide prevention and control of water
pollution & maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness and
purity of water in the various sources of water
 It vests regulatory authority in Centre Pollution Control
Boards (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).
 It empowers CPCB and SPCB to establish and enforce
effluent standards for factories discharging pollutants into
water bodies.
 CPCB performs these same functions for Union Territories.
It also formulates policies related to the prevention of water
pollution and coordinates activities of different State Boards.
 SPCB control sewage and industrial effluent discharge by
approving, rejecting or impose conditions while granting
consent to discharge
 March 23, 1974 / Eight Chapters and 64 Sections
The Air Act, 1981
 The act aims to control and prevent air pollution in India. It
got amended in 1987
 Its main objectives are as follows:
◦ To provide for prevention, control and abatement of the air
pollution.
◦ To provide for the establishment of the boards at the central and
state levels with a view to implementing the Act (Central
Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board),
 To confer on the Boards the powers and duties to
implement the provisions of the act.
 The states should prescribe emission standards for industry
and automobiles after consulting the central board and
seeing its ambient air quality standards.
 It states that the sources of air pollution such as Internal
combustion engine, industry, vehicles, power plants, etc., are
not permitted to release particulate matter, lead, carbon
monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) or other toxic substances beyond a
predetermined limit.
 It also empowers the State Government to designate air
pollution areas. They have to prescribe the type of fuel to be
used in these designated areas.
 According to it, it is required the consent of the State Board
to operate certain types of industries including the asbestos,
cement, fertilizer and petroleum industries.
 March 29, 1981 / Seven Chapter and 54 Sections
The Environment Act of 1986
 The Parliament of India passed the Environment Protection
Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution. It was in
the wake of the Bhopal Tragedy. It came into force on 19th
November 1986.
 It is an “umbrella” for various environment legislations and
organization designed to give a framework for the
coordination of various central and state authorities‟
activities.
 It defines “Environment” in a broader sense to include water,
air and land and the inter-relationships among them and
human beings and other living creatures, plants, micro-
organisms and property
 It was enacted to achieve the objective of the United
Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972.
 Section (19) of this act provides that any person can file a
complaint alleging an offence under this Act in the court with
prior notice of 60 days to the competent authority.
 Central Government can make rules for the enforcement of
the Act by giving notification in the Official Gazette.
 May 23, 1986 / Four Chapters and 26 Sections
General Process of EIA
 Screening
 Scoping
 Collection of baseline data
 Impact prediction
 Mitigation measures and EIA report
 Public hearing
 Decision making
 Monitoring and implementation of an environmental
management plan
 Assessment of alternatives and Environmental Impact
Assessment report
 Risk assessment
EIA Notification 2006
 The EIA Notification, 2006 put together a decentralized,
efficient, and transparent mechanism to combine
developmental processes with environmental concerns to
promote sustainable development.
 The EIA also ensures the consolidation of significant
environmental safeguards at the planning stage to ensure a
lesser effect on different environmental components.
 After the 2006 Amendment, the EIA cycle comprises only
four stages:
◦ Screening,
◦ Scoping
◦ Publish earing
◦ Appraisal.
 The salient features of the Environmental Impact Assessment
notification, 2006 are:
 Projects were categorized into 2 categories, namely,
◦ Category „A‟
◦ Category „B‟ based on their impact potential
 Category A projects and Category B projects undergo the
complete EIA process, whereas Category B2 projects are
excluded from the complete EIA process.
 Category B1 projects (Mandatorily requires EIA).
 Category B2 projects (Do not require EIA).
Category A-
 These projects require compulsory clearance and thus, they
do not go through the screening process.
Category B-
 These projects undergo a screening process and complete
the EIA process and are classified into two types, as
discussed above.
 The public consultation process is made more structured,
comprising two components, i.e., comments through
correspondence and a public hearing at the site. Provision for
videography of the public hearing proceedings has also been
made.
 For considering an environmental clearance application, No-
Objection Certificates from regulatory bodies, such as SPCB
etc., are not mandatory.
Environmental standards for Water
Environmental standards for Air
Environmental standards for Noise
Thank you…