The Evolution of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) in India Essay Example

in 1994 when notification of EIA had come into existence for the very first time. The main function of the notification was to make the industrialization process more sustainable in the country keeping in view the environmental and social impacts. In pursuance of the same, the notification imposed restrictions on developing, expanding or modernizing new proposals or projects without gaining an environmental consent from the administration and this notification has even particularly stated the category of project that is in need of environmental clearance and hence conducts an EIA. According to this Act, the Central government must offer environmental clearance to all the projects coming under Schedule 1 for the development or expansion of any plant in any state of the country. A number of proposals/ projects have also been listed, which are free from the process of environment clearance or public hearing. Amendments.

Even before the system was thought to be completely revised, the EIA notification of 1994 was changed and improved twelve times within the period of eleven years of its existence, before it was finally revised. Some of the key amendments are given in details below:

• Amendment on 10 April, 1997: the SPCB's (State Pollution Control Board) were assigned to conduct public hearings. They were also given the task of establishing an EPH committee for ensuring impartial representation in the community hearing process. Some changes were made in this amendment, with reference to the compulsory environmental clearance for power plants.
• Amendment on 13 June, 2002: The function of the notification was diluted by the amendment as many industries were exempted from the procedure of EIA or the
  

entire process of environment clearance in consideration with the level of investment.

of river valley projects, nuclear power projects, thermal power plants, ports, mining projects, harbours and airports, with a lease area consisting of five hectares or more could be attained without any earlier environmental clearance. The EIA Notification, 2006

India as a developing nation is on the way to progress. The rapid increase in urbanization and tremendous increase of development projects are accompanied with significant social and environmental burdens, largely borne by the public residing in the surroundings of the project sites. Therefore, tools of monitoring like the EIA is of great importance in making sure that the economic development is sound enough without compromising on the social and environmental costs.