Effectiveness and Challenges of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in India
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs4
- Articles1
Background
Directly relevant to environmental governance, sustainable development, the role of regulatory bodies, public participation in environmental decision-making, and the critical analysis of policy instruments.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a crucial policy instrument in India designed to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of proposed projects, ensuring sustainable development by integrating environmental considerations into decision-making. However, its effectiveness is often hampered by procedural weaknesses, data deficiencies, and implementation gaps.
Facts & tables
- Omission of Species
- The EIA for the Lohit River hydroelectric project omitted a critically endangered species (white-bellied heron) from its assessment.
- Data Reliability & Scope
- Concerns were raised about the reliability of baseline data, exclusion of important flora, fauna, cultural practices, and affected villages.
- Compensatory Measures
- Compensatory afforestation was proposed in a geographically and ecologically distant region (>1000 km away), deemed ineffective for complex ecosystems.
- Ecological Complexity
- The process often fails to capture the ecological complexity of biodiversity hotspots, necessitating a broader, basin-level assessment.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Environmental Governance |
| Conceptual area | Sustainable Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Union Environment Ministry | Nodal ministry for environmental clearances and eia policy |
| Forest Advisory Committee | Statutory body, reviews forest diversion proposals and eias |
| WAPCOS, Ltd. | Public sector undertaking under ministry of jal shakti, often prepares eia reports |
| Ministry of Jal Shakti | Parent ministry for wapcos, involved in water resource projects |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- EIA aims to assess project impacts and ensure sustainability.
- Challenges: Data gaps, species omission, inadequate scope (site-specific vs. basin-level).
- Compensatory afforestation often geographically and ecologically mismatched.
- Need for robust baseline data, public participation, and holistic assessments.
- Policy exists, but implementation and oversight are weak.
Ministry sets policy; regulator often has quasi-judicial powers.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Conceptual understanding, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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Environmental Governance
Conceptual area
-
Sustainable Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2017
Conceptual understanding, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
India’s rarest heron faces a silent end as new dam ignores its home
Examines the shortcomings of India's EIA process, using the Lohit River project as an example to illustrate issues like data gaps, species omission, inadequate compensatory measures, and the need for more holistic, basin-level assessments.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2015–2019 · 2 questions
In the news
India’s rarest heron faces a silent end as new dam ignores its home
Examines the shortcomings of India's EIA process, using the Lohit River project as an example to illustrate issues like data gaps, species omission, inadequate compensatory measures, and the need for more holistic, basin-level assessments.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements :
The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to
1. state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the Procedure and manner in which it sought
2. lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986 recognizes the importance of public participation in environmental decision-making. However, it does not explicitly define the procedure for public participation in environmental governance, such as public hearings or consultations. These provisions were later formalized through subsequent rules and notifications, such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, which mandates public hearings for certain projects. Statement 2 is correct: The EPA, of 1986 empowers the Central Government to Lay down environmental quality standards for air, water, and soil, Regulate emissions and discharges of pollutants from industries and other sources, Restrict hazardous substances and their handling, Take emergency measures to prevent environmental disasters.
With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct using the code given below.
Statement 1 is incorrect: IUCN is an independent membership organization, not a UN body. Governments, NGOs, and scientific institutions can all be members. Statement 2 is correct: IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments. Statement 3 is correct: CITES is a legally binding international agreement for countries that have ratified it. However, each member nation implements the regulations through its own domestic laws.
If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?
* The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants. It classifies species into six schedules, each offering different levels of protection. * Schedule VI of the Act pertains to certain plants that are prohibited from cultivation and planting without a license. Therefore, If a plant species is listed under Schedule VI, it means a license is required for its cultivation. * The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 amended the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The amendment reduced the number of schedules from six to four, simplifying wildlife classification and protection levels. Additionally, the Act also aligned the provisions with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) by introducing a separate schedule (Sch. IV) for species covered under CITES.
In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?
In 1972, the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA) was enacted for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants. It was made to prevent hunting and also to control trade in wildlife products.
Wildlife laws divide species into schedules ranked from I to V. Section 9 of WPA prohibits hunting of any wild animal specified in Schedules 1, 2, 3, and 4. Tiger is listed in Schedule I of the act. So if a species is listed in Schedule I of the act, It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger. Note: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972 underwent amendments in 2022 which impacted the scheduling of wild animals. Previously, there were six schedules. The amendment streamlined them into four schedules.