Thread by @DearthOfSid

The draft EIA notification 2020 is anti-environment, anti-people and allows unregulated exploitation of our natural resources.

This thread lists down few of the key issues of this proposal and links to further readings.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

1. Allowing post-facto clearance

The notification proposes to allow projects that are operating illegally without environmental clearance to be turned into legal units by paying the prescribed penalty.

This will cause irreparable damage.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

2. Exemptions of projects

The notification proposes that the following are to be exempted from any assessment
> any project that Govt categorises as strategic
> Construction projects upto 1.5L sq. m.
> Hydropower projects upto 25 MW

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

3. No concern for people

There is no mention of Adivasis whose livelihoods will be devastated due to the state's ambitious "development" projects. The notification is incomplete without laying out the provisions for compensation.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

4a. Unregulated exploitation in the name of “Ease of Doing business”

The notification proposes that the EIA consultant be contracted by the Project Proponent at its cost and terms. This will result in a glaring conflict of interest.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

4b. Unregulated exploitation in the name of “Ease of Doing business”

Currently, the industries are required to submit compliance reports twice a year. The notification proposes this to be reduced to once a year thereby relaxing the check.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

5a. Lack of public consultation

→ Inadequate time for public consultation: the notification proposes to reduce the current 30 days to 20 days

→ Violations can be reported only by the govt or project proponent, not by citizens.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

5b. Lack of public consultation

The notification was only published in Hindi & English. The Delhi High Court ordered for translated copies of the draft in other scheduled languages which has not been done yet.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

5c. Lack of public consultation

In a shocking move, the govt took down websites of three national environmental advocacy groups that launched criticised the notification and launched campaigns.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

huffingtonpost.in/entry/eia-2020…

Time and again, there have been catastrophes due to faulty environmental clearances. Just in the last few months, a gas leak happened at a chemical factory in Visakhapatnam and a massive fire in Assam.

How many more before we resist?

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

"Clearly The Draft EIA 2020 Notification falls awfully short of the State's Constitutional duty to ‘Protect’ and ‘Improve’ Environment deserving thereby an outright rejection and a redraw."

Read.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale
thedialogue.co.in/article/rr2MHK…

"This is also an indication that the authorities are scared of our voices and when they do try to silence it ,we should only raise our voices louder."

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale
theleaflet.in/draft-eia-noti…

"The notification fails to fulfil the precautionary principle, due diligence and norms for fruitful public participation, making it converse to the protection and safeguard of the environment."

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale
downtoearth.org.in/news/environme…

"It is crucial to envision the EIA as anticipatory, participatory and systematic in nature and a process that relies on multidisciplinary input, which the draft EIA 2020 fails to do."

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale
downtoearth.org.in/news/environme…

Watch this short video by @the_hindu listing down the key issues with the Draft EIA Notification 2020.

#WithdrawDraftEIA2020 #IndiaNotForSale

I sent an email to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change regarding these concerns about EIA Notification 2020.

If you haven't, please go to the below link and click "Save EIA". The draft email is available for your review.

environmentnetworkindia.github.io

Read the detailed letter by Brinda Karat of @cpimspeak addressed to the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change sharing the concerns on Draft Notification for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020.

#IndiaNotForSale #WithdrawEIA2020
cpim.org/pressbriefs/wi…

Now what?

https://twitter.com/DearthOfSid/status/1292724281227452418?s=20