The campaign has received overwhelming support on social media. Environmental Impact Assessment, it can be said in one word that our country is preparing to simplify the existing environmental laws in these times when the environment is highly debated. No more exploiting nature without the strings of permits.
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Withdraw : Email Format to 'Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change'
I am aware that in March 2020, the ministry proposed a draft notification to replace the 2006 EIA. Currently, the notification is at the stage of public comments. Here is the email format send to Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Secretary Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan
Jor Bagh, New Delhi
I am aware that in March 2020, the ministry proposed a draft notification to replace the 2006 EIA. Currently, the notification is at the stage of public comments.
I, as a citizen and an active participant of pro-environmental activities, have concerns over it. The new draft notification has some serious problems, one of which is the extension of the time given for submitting a compliance report throughout the term of the project.
The earlier notification required that the project proponent submit a report every six months, showing that they are carrying out their activities as per the terms on which permission has been given. However, the new notification requires the promoter to submit a report only once every year. During this period, certain irreversible environmental, social or health consequences of the project could go unnoticed because of the extended reporting time. For example, if a mining project is being carried out at someplace which can be potentially hazardous to the nearby population and can contaminate the air, and water nearby, a half-yearly compliance report would better help in addressing these concerns. Any hazardous activity can then be stopped through timely reporting.
However, providing a longer period for filing reports can lead to disastrous consequences. In such a situation, the concerned authority will not have the opportunity to question the promoters for not following the terms of clearance. The only remedy would be to impose a fine or punishment, but that would not reverse the detrimental consequences on the environment.
Suggestions:
- Rather than compromising on the time needed for gathering public opinion, the government should focus on bringing down the average delay of 238 days in granting environmental clearance. In Kerala, the administration took 1,049 days to clear the construction of the IT park project of M/s T Tech Park Ltd, instead of 105 days.
- Either extend the public hearing time for EIA2020 or please scrap the current norms that are very detrimental for the environment as well as communities and their livelihoods.
The Earth Is What We Have In Common
Sincerely,
Concerned Earthling and Citizen of the Republic of India
