Strategy paper on EIA to MOEF

[DR. KAWALJEET SINGH]

Well friends it is official now. Shri Jairam Ramesh confirms what we ground workers knew since ages. The EIA reports are more of good pages of well bound paper than any thing else. So what do the members of IEN think about this. Let us blog out a strategy paper and take it to the MoEF! Write on your suggestions!

[G UDAYABHASKAR]

if you wnat to improve EIA in the country , we need to strengthen MOEF, IA division in staffing as well as their technical capability. What ever rules we bring in or involve QCI, CPCB or other organisations , it can not imporove EIA to the satisfaction , as there is lack of understanding and appreciation by MOEF themselves on seriousness of EIA excecise. It is considered essential to push and process the files. Officers has no timeor will to read the papers submitted and comment on  contents. In the World bank EMCB project it was proposed that EIA processing & complaince verification to be out sourced to professionals. it was never agreed by MOEF. as it may raise tons of questions and doubts in the EIA and its processing. The only thing good happened after EMCB project was making EIA case processing transperant administarively. We have long way to g..................o.

[nand gopal maurya]

Dear Friends,

I think that if we want to improve  the quality of  EIA ,we should have few guidelines  about professional fees being charged by EIS experts. On the basis of my ground experience, when a EIA consultant being hired by project prponent, in maximum cases their focus is only on two factors ,1) How much time will it take to obtain the "EC" and 2) how much will the consultant charge as his "professional fee". To beat the compition in the market  some time even few reputated  consultans have no alternate other than to lower dowen their professional fees at the rock bottem level, which ultimatly reflect on the quality of EIA report.

[Reshma Thakur]

Every aspect of the EIA should be scrutanized and the data presented in the EIA should be monitered by the third party as well as by a senior official appointed by Ministry of Environment and Forest

[SABU T]

Most of the EIA reports are true copies of previous reports. Only difference is change of place names. EIA can depend on previous studies to a large extent. But most of the studies reffered are pretty old and there is ground truth checking. In most cases the reports are prepared in the last minutes by taking 1-2 months without conducting a proper study. Another major lacuna I noticed in EIA reports is that there is no description of the methodology for the study. The methodology should be very clearly stated with time of data collection.

One reason for this is that people making these reports are well aware that these reports are for keeping in showcases rather than implementation during construction or functioning of the project. The contractor will get additional money for EIA implementation, that is all! Strict implementation needs a full proof EIA. So if we insist this, people will be forced to make a good EIA.

Sabu

[Palle Sudhir]

 

Sir,

 

It is high time govt should ask for soft copies only.Where as it is asking soft copy as well as hard copy.Thre is no point in looking at the thickness of a report.All the data required as per the EIA,it has to be .Let govt. restrict number of pages to be in an EIA report and omit certian information like drainage pattern,landuse pattern ,hydrogeology etc for industrial areas. Requirement of EIA report has to be restricted to certain areas only.

[Palle Sudhir]

Sir,

We are not competent to comment including minister. What we submit is scrutinised by a committe and it is the final authority to consider or reject.Govt policy has to change on issuing Environmental clearances.In an industrial area,govt should not ask for EIA reports.Unfortunately opposit is happening.Regarding ecology, it is a concern for all.Unfortunately natural resources that are useful for mankind is available only in such areas.Govt can demand an area  as a compensation  and collect development charges from the promoters and the same has to be utilised for the loss.Socalled Nabet and Quality council of india are not competent to decide the quality of EIA consultants.Where in an industrial area flora and founa are not a concern.Respective state govts,which acquire lands for such use will consider all those aspects and allot the land for enterprenuers.In such areas rehabilitation of human habitat point does not not arise.But govt is making it a point. In an industrial area ,construction of houses are not allowed.But unfortunately concerned authorities are closing their eyes.Ultimately after some time industries are forced to close their operation forgetting that it has contributed to development of an area.Blaming the consultants is not correct.

 

Sudhir

[Anjan Prusty]

As we all know that EIA is a formative procedure to undertake assessment of the likely impacts (both positive and negative) of a proposed developmental activity. Although, it has the potential and can be a tool for sustainable Development in India, often it has been perceived as an eyewash. General public feels that EIA slows down development. However, EIA in fact streamlines and organizes developmental activities.

 

As per the provisions of EIA notification, EIA has to be undertaken by a neutral agency, generally referred as a third-party assessment, neither by project proponent and opponent. On the contrary, the trend is that  the project proponent decides the agency who will undertake the EIA exercise and prepare a report for the project, which is a major loophole in EIA process. There are in fact cases and examples available, how in an EIA report prepared for a project based in northeast India (tropical rainforest) had list of plant species generally seen in arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

 

Hence, it is high time that Ministry of Environment and Forest decide and identify agencies for different sector specific developmental projects, which will provide justice to the natural resource and support systems in our country.  

 

Anjan Prusty

Scientist, EIA Division

SACON, Anaikatty (PO)

Coimbatore

Email. [e-mail]

www.sacon.in

[Satya Prakash Mehra]

We all know that EIA is required when we are having a fear of negative impacts (on nature and environment) of the proposed projects. So these negative impacts are beautifully covered by the logics and compensation packs by the proposing agency.

 

I will here state that there is no alternative for the destruction of nature. Every part of ecosystem has its own importance and human can't compensate those.

 

So EIA is just the formalities done to convince the mass.....