The Hindu Business Line : Revamp of environment impact assessment likely

THE Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is in the process of re-engineering the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with a view to remove bottlenecks.

The re-engineering process would study the environmental clearance (EC) processes in the US, Netherlands, Malaysia, Brazil, and China and pick benchmark practices.

These would be adopted to suit the Indian needs. The process would also involve discussions with stakeholders and review of some case files.

Speaking at a workshop on `Environmental management systems for sustainable growth' on Tuesday, Dr G.V. Subramanyam, Director of the Ministry, said the current appraisal system was centralised and uncertain with respect to time and information for decision-making.

He made a presentation on environmental clearance process. The proposed system is aimed at bringing in decentralised appraisal, with defined time and information limits.

Calling for sustainable growth, he said that traditionally Indians lived in harmony with the nature, while the Western nations conflicted with it. "We have started following the West of late."

Mr O.P. Goenka, President of FAPCCI, said that there was an urgent need to strike a delicate balance between economic development and safeguarding environment.

While supporting the regulatory authority in ordering closure of units that did not comply with the norms, he said that the regulator should not succumb to local pressures and order for the closure.

"A pragmatic approach is required to study; only then should action be taken."

He added that closure of running units was no solution.

The erring units should be asked to set up treatment plants.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page