Thread by @yamunajiye

#Demystifying #EIANotification Process (Cont)
Today we cover d final bit of d #Process namely
#SCHEDULE which lists d #projects/activities for which #Prior #EC is mandatory.

#EIA1994 carried a list of 32 projects / activities that required environmental clearance (EC) from+

d Central government. An exception was made in case of few kinds of Thermal power projects (eg captive power projects) which could seek EC from d respective State governments.

In #EIA2006 Thirty nine (39) projects or processes were listed in d #Schedule to d Notification.

These were categorized into following 8 different categories. Each was further sub divided into several others. A note on “#General” Conditions was appended to d #Schedule.
1.Mining, extraction of natural resources & power generation
2.Primary Processing

3.Materials Production
4.Materials Processing
5.Manufacturing / Fabrication
6.Service Sectors
7.Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services
8.Building /Construction projects/Area Development projects and Townships

#CategoryA #projects/activities required #Prior #EC

from the Central Govt and #CategoryB #projects/activities required #Prior #EC from d #SEIAA (State EIA Authority).

“General Condition (GC):
Any project or activity specified in Category ‘B’ will be treated as Category 'A' (& hence require EC from GOI), if located in whole+

or in part within 10 km from d boundary of:
(i) Protected Areas notified under d Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
(ii) Critically Polluted areas as identified by d #CPCB frm time to time
(iii) Notified Eco-sensitive areas
(iv) inter-State boundaries & international boundary

In #DraftEIA2020 there r 43 #Projects/Activities categorised as #CategoryA, #CategoryB1 & #CategoryB2 which wud require #Prior #EC frm central govt (CategoryA) or #Prior #EC or #EP from d #SEIAA (CategoryB1 and B2).

In d "General Conditions" d previous distance of 10 km

for most projects has been reduced to 5 km.
Most problematic is d manner in which projects have been listed in #CategoryB2 with majority of them requiring no #EIA, #PublicConsultation or #appraisal & qualifying only for a diluted #EP (Environment Permission) from d #SEIAA.

Worst case eg of #CategoryB2 with
No #EIAReport, #PublicConsultation or #Appraisal:
1. All projects of #Exploration for Offshore & Onshore
Oil & Gas (There can b serious env issues with such exploration?)
2. >25 MW hydro electric power generation (Micro hydel def changed?)

3. Water aerodromes which r 4 commercial
use & Heliports which r for commercial use. (Impacts on rivers & water bodies ignored?)
4. All projects in respect of Inland waterways (Impacts on rivers ignored?)
5. Expansion or widening of existing NH/Xpressways upto 100km & all SH

in non hilly areas (Such activities hv major env/social impacts?)
6. All Building & Construction projects upto 50,000 sq m built up area & upto 150,000 sq m built up area for 'Green certified', Industrial sheds, Educational Inst, Hospitals, & Hostels for students (Threshold+

for appraisal shifted from 20K sq m to 50k sq m & how can intended 'use' b a criterion for non appraisal?)
7. Elevated roads, flyovers & Bridges with >150,000 sq m built up area (These have major env impacts?)

Clearly there has been little or poor application of mind while designating projects/activities under #CategoryB2 & considerations other than "environment protection & improvement" seem to have guided d framers of #DraftEIA2020.
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