Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool in environmental management. It has been accepted by many countries and is being widely used. Wherever any developmental activity is taken, it definitely affects the environment because the resources are drawn from the environment and during the process of that activity and after its completion, the products as well as wastes become a part of the environment.
EIA studies are useful because they help in carrying out proper planning and hence minimise the damage likely to be caused to the environment. EIA also helps to take care of remedial measures while we plan the project, thereby later saving us from penalties. Also, EIA is a means to test whether the regulatory procedures, guidelines etc. are being met or not, by the way the activity or project is planned to be executed.
Several projects can be better executed if EIA is done in advance. These include development activities such as setting up of an industry, construction of a dam, establishing a power plant, exploration of oil etc. In India, MoEF has made EIA mandatory for 29 specified activities in the categories of mining, industries, transport, power, irrigation, and tourism by issuing a notification on 27th January 1994. An amendment to this was made on 4th May 1994 which required submission of details, technical information and other documents for getting a clearance for the project from MoEF.
The EIA studies include the existing environment, field studies and impact of the proposed activity on land use, water use, hydrology, air and water quality, ecology, atmosphere, socio-economic benefits and losses, financial requirements, conformity to regulatory provision etc.
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