What is the aim of EIA in India and Why is EIA Important?

Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA was created as a result of traditional project appraisal methods' failure, to take environmental concerns into account. Numerous development projects in the past were planned and built, without taking into account their effects on the environment, which led to increased expenses, project failure, major environmental change, and detrimental social implications.

What is the aim of EIA in India?

The follow?ing are the objectives of the EIA process:

· to offer analysis of the entire environment to decision-makers so that choices can be made based on data, which is as nearly comprehensive and balanced as feasible;

· to evaluate and convey intangible/unquantifiable consequences that cost/benefit analysis, and other technical reports do not sufficiently address;

· to tell the general public of a plan;

· systematise the process of evaluating options to a proposal so that, the least ecologically damaging method of achieving a goal can be selected;

· to use mitigation and avoidance strategies to enhance the design of new constructions and protect the environment.

Importance of the Environmental Impact Assessment: Why is EIA important?

The procedure of environment impact assessment has some absurdity, but it also has some measurable advantages that cannot be discarded.

1: It establishes a link between environmental preservation and development, so that both of them can be handled concurrently, and jointly achieve the goal of long-term growth.

2: The project has a legal framework that causes less environmental harm, thanks to the environment impact assessment.

3: Before projects begin, EIA identifies a long number of issues, such as technological hazards and additional costs connected to ecological effect. It also provides a long time frame.

4: It ensures that those who will be impacted by the project must be involved in the project's affiliation process, in light of protocols like public hearings.

5: It offers practical ways to lessen the environmental impact of undertakings.

6: It aids in the prevention of natural disasters like landslides and floods.

7: It encourages positive interactions between the local community, environmentalists, and the government.

8: Although, many projects may encounter legal problems in the absence of the necessary analysis, EIA helps reduce the obligations placed on the judiciary.

9: For environmentally sound and sustainable development, EIA connects the environment with the development process.

10: EIA offers a practical way to eliminate or reduce the negative effects of development initiatives.

11: Before a development project is put into action, decision-makers can analyse how development activities will affect the environment.

12: EIA facilitates the development plan's adoption of mitigating measures.

13: One of the essential elements in the EIA process is public consultation. Its inclusion serves the very clear purpose of giving residents an opportunity to voice their concerns up front, and helping project managers understand and mitigate local impact through dialogue with the community.

These benefits make this approach essential before starting any project.

What are the main goals of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

EIA goals can be divided into long-term and short-term categories.

The following are some of the long-term goals:

· the sustainable management of natural resources,

· preservation and improvement of all living forms' standards,

· Including environmental factors in the methods used for development planning.

The following are some of the immediate goals:

· To evaluate the kind, extent, and duration of the effects of potential development initiatives

· To encourage public and local community involvement in a project's environmental impact analysis

· To encourage the inclusion of social and cultural factors in project design

· To offer a technique for mitigating and preventing the effects that a project's presence is projected to have

Problems related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

· Lack of EIA approval authorities' capability

Poor judgements are made and potentially harmful projects are approved as a result of crony capitalism, a relationship between business interests and politicians, and a dearth of technical and environmental experts, anthropologists, and social scientists among the members.

· Screening, scoping, and impact analysis flaws

There are no independent bodies or pre-established formats used in project evaluation. Without consistent baseline data, impact prediction becomes arbitrary. It appears to be done by people who supposedly work for the company, creating a conflict of interest.

· Bad calibre EIA Reports

EIA is being used more to justify projects than to plan them, which makes it harder to accomplish sustainable development. The project's justification should be taken into account, as well as the planning of subsequent activities.

EIA is a tool that may be used to assess whether a project is a good idea or not, as well as to assess how any potential environmental impact can be minimised, to make a project pollution-free and environmentally sustainable.

· Late action

Another flaw in the system is that the EIA process is initiated much later in India, particularly after the project has been developed, approved, and is essentially prepared for construction.

As a result, by the time the EIA process starts, significant costs have already been incurred and the project has become too big to fail.

· Inadequate public involvement

In many countries, public engagement is necessary at several stages of the EIA process such as screening, scoping, report writing, and decision making, whereas it just occurs once in India across the entire process. There are two methods for conducting this public consultation, according to the EIA notification from 2006.

In order to achieve ecologically sustainable growth, environmental impact assessment must incorporate environmental issues, into project planning and decision-making.

Conclusion

EIA identifies environmental risks, encourages community gathering to settle disputes, lessens adverse environmental effects, informs decision-makers, and aids in laying the groundwork for initiatives that respect the environment. It can only be done, nevertheless, by incorporating sustainability into EIA theory and idea. If the idea is to be turned into practical tactics, many issues still need to be overcome.

Sustainability may offer EIA a direction that is unmistakably ethical, a framework for establishing priorities, and a way to connect EIA to environmental management tools.

Theoretically, if the framework is flexible in nature, and connected to relevant activities, EIA & sustainability can be linked with less effort. Therefore, sustainability must be incorporated into EIA rules, regulations, and institutional frameworks.

As responsible citizens of India, and environment lovers, we at Netsol Water Solutions take pledge to protect our environment, save fresh water and treat wastewater, and work with government as per EIA rules and regulations.  

Netsol Water is the leading manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of a quality selection of water treatment plants, and wastewater treatment plants in India.

We provide various capacities of Industrial and Commercial RO Plants, water softeners, ETPs, DM plants, Ultra filtration plants, UV water purification systems, STPs, ZLD plants, and other goods and services. We also provide water and wastewater treatment solutions to businesses including pulp & paper, automotive, beverages, textile, pharmaceutical, refineries, hotels, schools, office buildings, hospitals, among others.

Call us at +91 9650608473 or email at enquiry@netsolwater.com for further information.