Subject: Environment & Ecology

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework represents a crucial environmental governance tool that evaluates potential environmental impacts of development projects. The transition from EIA 2006 to the proposed Draft EIA 2020 marks significant changes in India's environmental regulatory landscape.

Key Differences Between EIA 2006 and Draft EIA 2020

Public Consultation Process

• The 2006 notification mandated a 30-day public consultation period ensuring comprehensive stakeholder participation and environmental democracy.
• The Draft 2020 reduces this timeline to 20 days, potentially limiting public engagement and environmental due diligence.

Project Categories and Clearances

• EIA 2006 followed a two-tier system:
  • Category A: National level clearance through MoEFCC.
  • Category B: State level clearance through SEIAA, further divided into B1 (requiring EIA) and B2 (exempt).
• Draft EIA 2020 introduces:
  • Post-facto clearance for violations.
  • Re-categorization of projects with modified scrutiny levels.
  • Extended validity period for mining projects.

Compliance Monitoring

• The 2006 framework required:
  • Bi-annual compliance reports.
  • Regular monitoring of environmental conditions.
• Draft 2020 proposes:
  • Annual compliance reports.
  • Reduced frequency of environmental monitoring.

Project Exemptions

• EIA 2006 had limited exemptions for strategic and defense projects.
• Draft 2020 expands exemptions to include:
  • Linear projects in border areas.
  • Small-scale mining projects.
  • Certain building construction projects.

The evolution from EIA 2006 to Draft EIA 2020 reflects a shift towards streamlined processes, though concerns remain about environmental safeguards. The challenge lies in balancing development needs with environmental protection, as demonstrated by successful models like Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in European nations.