State Level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority

Government of India recently constituted a State Level Environmental
Impact Assessment Authority  Every States and formulated State
Level Expert Appraisal Committee to assist the Authority. Environmental
Impact Assessment is defined as an activity designed to identify the
impact on the bio geophysical environment, on man and well-being of
legislative proposals, projects, policies, operational procedures and to
interpret and communicate information. EIA is a systematic process of
identifying future consequences of a current or proposed action. 

Many
states have these authorities and it is probably for the first time such
a welcome initiative has been taken. The objective of the
authority is to promote environmentally sound and sustainable
development. In many states there has hardly been any prior assessment of
various developmental projects especially in regard to environment. Most
of the projects are virtually started on ad hoc basis without
determining the long term impact of these projects on the environment.
This authority is globally accepted as a tool to ensure sustained
development with minimum environmental degradation. In Kashmir always
the reverse has happened. Many a project have been ostensibly started
for giving boost to economic development but these have often resulted
in the worst form of environmental degradation. Examples are setting up
of cement factories, some electric power projects such as high voltage
transmission lines through dense forests involving cutting of trees and
so on.

It
would be very useful if all future projects are first examined and
cleared by the Authority before these are taken up. It would also be a
great environmental drive if some of the existing projects are also
assessed in regard to the impact caused by these to the environment. No
doubt the creation and commissioning of this Authority will give a big
boost to the environment protection drive but in order to be effective,
the Authority should have some over-riding statutory powers. It is hoped
that this aspect has been taken care off? There are already a number of
laws and regulations for protection of environment but these have
remained on the statute book only because of the absence of any
effective enforcing agency. One would have to wait to see how far the
Authority is effective in protecting environment. Nevertheless, the step
taken is appreciable and timely.