ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSSESMENT

Environmental impact assessmentIt is a process used to predict the environmental

consequences of proposed major development projects ,to identify and plan for appropriate measures to reduce adverse impacts.

EIA helps the decision makers to identify the likely effects at an early stage and to improve the quality of project planning and decision making.

NEED OF EIA

The major aims of EIA are:•Resources Conservation•Waste minimization•Recovery of by-product•Efficient use of equipment•Sustainable Development

Goals of Environment Impact Assessment

Role of EIA in Sustainable Development

BASE LINE STUDIES The baseline study involves both field work and review of data collected from secondary source.Land use Submerge areaPopulation densityVillege affectedWater table conditionIndustrial developevent of that area Sources of pollutionDetails of aquatic life Public health

Impacts Due to Project Location (i) Resettlement and Rehabilitation (ii) Erosion/siltation(iii) Effects on groundwater(iv) Impacts on fisheries and fish species (v) Inundation of mineral resources

Impacts Due to Project Design

(i) Downstream water quality (ii) Water quality for irrigation (iii) Salinity, alkalinity and waterlogging (iii) Impacts of hydraulic structures

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

IMPACT DUE TO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

(i) soil erosion/siltation (ii) Pollution due to construction wastes (iii) Waste disposal at workers' camps and associated health risks (iv) Dust, odours, fumes and noise pollution(v) socio-cultural impacts

IMPACT DUE TO PROJECT OPERATION

i. Aquatic weed ii. Health impactsiii. Impacts on soiliv. Down stream water qualityv. Change in settlement pattern

 

1. Helps to understand the change in environmental quality from the existing conditions, for quantifying the feasibility of the project, based on professional knowledge, information from case studies etc.,

2. Demarks the critical zone and necessitates the need for Environmental upgradation in such zones, during emergency situations, depending on the activity in the region (e.g. Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural etc.)

Assessment of Impacts on Environment

MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN

An environmental management strategy will be developed to mitigate the adverse impacts

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARENCE PROCESS

Once it has been determined that a project has potentially significant impacts on the environment and the main issues to be considered in the study have been identified, the EIA has to be undertaken and presented in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment report.

The assessment must determine the significance of direct and indirect impacts, both beneficial and adverse, and the duration of the impacts.

EIA Report Preparation

Though EIA is considered as a mandatory procedure for meeting the statutory requirements, it has many inbuilt advantages to the project proponent and to the society. Few of the advantages are:  More environmental sustainable design. Better compliance with statutory standards. Savings in capital and operating costs. Reduced time and costs for obtaining clearances. Avoid later plant adaptations. Reduced health cost. Increased project acceptance.

Advantages of EIA

Enables to select appropriate technologies to combat pollution.

Enables to understand the viability of resource recovery in terms of salvaging from waste, recovery and recycle etc.

Better Environmental Management Plan can be designed by understanding the impacts of project specific pollutants on the environment.

Benefits to the Industry

Benefits to the Society 

Can understand the details of the project and its possible impacts on their environment.

  It enables public to visualize possible accidents, also to overcome the same with effective remediation measures. 

Can understand the economic development as against the natural resources depletion, and decide on project acceptance in their area well before project execution

Conclusions  EIA study is a valuable tool for identifying the

potential impacts on Environment and to source appropriate technologies for mitigating the impacts to tolerable levels.

The effort put in by professionals in collecting as much technical details as possible about the project, the Baseline Data, Meteorological Data etc., will be of great use in defining a problem with better clarity for a realistic solution.

EIA is a legal document and any attempt to provide wrong facts is an offence.

  EIA Study is a protective weapon against vested interest groups and will defend scientifically and legally the right for existence of an Environment friendly project.

REFERENCES

 1. Anonymous (2001).Bioderversity –India. State of environment. pp77-95. 2.Allen, R.G., Pereira, L.S., Raes,D &Smith, M. (1998) Crop Evapotranspiration guideline. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper.

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