EIA draft 2020
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) draft, it was issued by the Ministry of Environmental, Forest, and climate change. India issued the country's first EIA notification in 1994, under the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) of 1986. This was later replaced by a modification draft in 2006.
It is a process or study which predicts the effect of a proposed industry or infrastructural projects on the environment.
Problem in EIA draft 2020
This EIA 2020 draft is an attempt to weaken environmental regulation. This EIA 2020 has many loopholes.
In EIA new draft it allows post-facto clearance. It means that even if a project comes without getting
any environmental clearances it could carry out operations according to the new draft. This is dangerous because the industry may use harmful chemicals, waste products which can cause harm to the human, forest, and the whole ecosystem an example is the LG Polymer Vishakhapatnam, where the styrene gas leak happened on May 27.
Earlier buildings of 20,000sq.m or above required environmental clearance. Now it will be 150,000 sq.m that's the size of an airport. This contributes to the transport of construction materials and actual construction is a huge generation of greenhouse gases.
In the 2016 Act, the highest level of scrutiny (category A) was given to National highways greater than 30Km, with the right of 20 meters. Now, category A is for highway length of 100Km, with right of way of 70 meters
The EIA has categories A, B1, and B2. Category A has the most extensive process, whereas project B2 has less scrutiny and it does not need a public hearing for instance. B2 projects proceed under the base of "Prior Environmental Permission" without even requiring EIA.
Many factories have been categorized from Category A to B1 and B2. Many irrigation projects, metallurgical projects, aerial ropeways, and many others have changed to Category B1 and B2.
If the industries move to category B2 the public cannot ask questions against the industries or the government. The industries can give out harmful pollution that can contaminate water, the air around you. Each year in India thousands of dying because of water and air pollution.
If this draft comes to force our generation is going to suffer, agriculture lands are going to be affected, in India, many coal mines are situated around forest it will affect animal habitats such as elephants, wild animals, etc.
If we do not stop now after august 11 no one can stop this EIA 2020 draft. We need development in our country but not in the cost of other's life.
Public hearing
The public response deadline for the EIA draft 2020 is opened till 11th August.
You can give your feedback about the EIA draft to eia2020-moefcc@gov.in.
YOUR FEEDBACK CAN MAKE CHANGES.
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