Environmental Impact Assessment

📖 What is EIA?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process for evaluating the likely environmental consequences of a proposed project — industrial, infrastructure, or mining — before it is approved, allowing decision-makers to consider environmental costs alongside economic benefits.

⚖️ Legal basis in India

EIA in India is mandated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and governed by the EIA Notification, 2006 (which has seen various amendments and a controversial draft revision proposed in 2020). Projects are classified into Category A (requiring central government clearance) and Category B (state-level clearance), based on their scale and potential impact.

🔍 The EIA process

1. Screening — determining whether a project needs EIA clearance.
2. Scoping — identifying the key environmental issues to be studied.
3. Public consultation — gathering input from affected communities and stakeholders.
4. Appraisal — expert review of the EIA report.
5. Decision — grant or denial of Environmental Clearance (EC).