Thread by @yamunajiye

Was asked,"Highlight d key problems with #draftEIA2020".
My response. Problem z not just with EIA2020 but with d whole EIA regime. #DraftEIA2020 was an opportunity to think & act wisely but unfortunately got converted into a disaster. There r at least 6 "Who" that needs attention

1. Who #drafts the Law?
2. Who gets #covered under it?
3. Who #prepares EIA report?
4. Who is #consulted & when?
5. Who #appraises a Project/activity?
6. Who #monitors a project post EC?
Each of these "Who" is crucial for a meaningful & worthwhile EIA regime in d country.

1. A law is meant to express Societal concerns & aspirations & not d philosophy or desires of a party in power. So why shud mandarins in a dept draft it?
Law as crucial as EIA with national & international ramifications must b #drafted by a representative Committee of experts.

2. While env impacts of economic sector/project/activity wud vary, it is wrong to #include/#exclude any project based upon presumptions.
Impact potential alone as determined by an Expert Panel shud classify a project as A & B for appraisal at centre or state level respectively.

3. Project Proponent commissioning a Consultant at its own terms & conditions for #preparation of an EIA report is instance of huge 'conflict of interest' which can never ensure d most imp document under d law to b without fear or favour. This arrangement has to cease.

4. Holding a Public Hearing without any quorum & only after d draft EIA report is in place is a sham & just a formality performed in d name of #Consultation. Local Public & interested expert's views must b solicited at d very start & throughout d project appraisal process.

5. Presently Chairmanship & membership of Expert #Appraisal Committees (EAC) at centre & state levels hv unfortunately got compromised thru amending qualifications over d yrs that has encouraged entry of retired bureaucrats/technocrats at d cost of 'true' experts & scientists.

6. Proper #monitoring of 'cleared' projects is key to ensuring timely mitigation of impacts & observance of EC conditions. Restricting it only to govt agencies or select govt institutions & specifically excluding public participation in it points to unacceptable drafting bias.

#Finally shud an inadvertant or wilful violator of law be given a long rope in perpetuity is d most problematic & brazenly anti-environment protection provision in form of para 22 & 23 in the #draftEIA2020. Nothing of this kind existed in EIA1994 or 2006.

SC has already declared post facto approval or violations of EIA Notification extra constitutional & against EIA jurisprudence. This can hv NO place in an EIA regime.
@moefcc @PrakashJavdekar @Jairam_Ramesh @lifeindia2016 @water_conflicts @Watervagabond @ShripadManthan @Neha429

@amitangshu @sweatonthefloor @prernabindra @kanchikohli @AdityaDubey2003 @AmanBanka00 @BhavreenMK @over2shailaja @zenrainman @JamwalNidhi @nehaa_sinha @nivedita_Him @Indian_Rivers @we4earth @dineshcsharma @vimlendu @nuts2406 @SanerDenizen @rsuri54 @jayashreenandi @vishwamTOI

@ManshiAsher @MallikaBG @nit_set @sudiepshri @Devinder_Sharma @rajbhagatt @sarvatathagata @biswajitmohanty @BittuSahgal @blueczkfox @protectwildlife @ndcnn @ambkcsingh @calamur @krishkaran2009 @Chicu_l @devasissarangi @down2earthindia @suchetadalal @sumitdookia @AparajitaDatta4

@sidagarwal @Ms_Aflatoon @rapiduplift @Schandillia @IndiaRiverForum @fayedsouza @fishtiaq @sukum51 @HSwaminath @TamhiniGhat @GargiRawat @joydeepgupta @NGhanekar @journomayank @rinkitagurav @paranjoygt @HariniNagendra @hridayeshjoshi @kumkumdasgupta @samar11 @ikukreti @joeathialy