Chapter 24 Environmental Impact Assessment

NIOS Class 12 Environmental Science Chapter 24

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.1

1. Expand EIA and define the term.

Ans: Environmental Impact Assessment. It is a tool to anticipate the likely environmental problems and threats due to a particular developmental activity.

2. Why is EIA necessary? Answer in one or two sentences.

Ans: EIA is a tool that improves decision-making and ensures that the project under consideration is an acceptable option. It helps prevent environmental damage due to developmental activities. It provides a cost-effective method to eliminate or minimise the adverse impact of development projects.

3. What are the important aspects of EIA?

Ans: The important aspects of EIA are:

• Risk assessment,
• Environmental management and
• Post product monitoring.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.2

1. What is meant by environmental clearance?

Ans: Environmental clearance is the ‘go-ahead’ signal granted by the Impact Assessment Agency in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

2. Name any three projects requiring such clearance.

Ans: All projects that require clearance from the central government can be broadly categorised into the following:-

• (1) Industries
• (2) Mining
• (3) Thermal power plants
• (4) River valley projects
• (5) Infrastructure and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone)
• (6) Nuclear power projects.

3. Name any two environmental components of EIA.

Ans: The EIA process looks into the following components of the environment.

• Air environment
• Noise
• Water environment
• Biological environment
• Land environment

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.3

1. State the various steps in EIA.

Ans: EIA involves the steps mentioned below. However, the EIA process is cyclical with interaction between the various steps.

• Screening
• Scoping
• Collection of baseline data
• Impact prediction
• Mitigation measures and EIA report
• Public hearing
• Decision making
• Monitoring and implementation of the environmental management plan
• Risk assessment

2. Name six regional offices of India that undertake monitoring of cleared projects.

Ans: The six regional offices of the Ministry functioning at Shillong, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Bhopal undertake monitoring of cleared projects.

3. What are the steps included for issuing an environmental clearance or rejection letter?

Ans: 

• Single window clearance
• Time frame
• Post-project monitoring.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 24.4

1. Who gives the clearance for foresting projects?

Ans: Government of India, Ministry of Forest

2. Apart from the government, two others are participants in EIA. Name them.

Ans: Developer and Public

3. What does the statement, “evaluation of EIA is possible only if the EIA report is reliable”, mean?

Ans: The EIA report has to be exactly in keeping with the process and procedure laid down for EIA.

TERMINAL EXERCISE

1. What is EIA?

Ans: EIA is a tool which helps to evaluate the environmental impact of proposed developmental projects or programs, which are visualised with clearance accorded after mitigation strategies are included in the plan. 

2. Why is EIA important?

Ans: EIA helps improve decision-making and ensures that the project under construction is environmentally sound and within the limits of the capacity of assimilation and regeneration capacities of the ecosystem. Environmental clearance of developmental projects is mandatory for the new project. EIA provides a cost-effective method to eliminate or minimise the adverse impact of development projects.

3. Give an account of the importance of development against environmental protection.

Ans: The protection of the global environment is in the interest of all of us living on this planet. Various measures have been taken at national and international levels to correct a number of environmental problems. So, it is important to anticipate the likely environmental problems and threats that may arise from the proposed developmental activities and human actions.

4. Explain the three core values of EIA

Ans: The important aspects of EIA are:

• Risk assessment,
• Environmental management and
• Post product monitoring.

5. Numerate the legal bases of EIA.

Ans: The EIA process will be designed such that its guidelines follow basic legal and policy requirements. EIA is to-

• (1) serve as a primary environmental tool with clear provisions.
• (2) apply consistently to all proposals with potential environmental impacts.
• (3) Use scientific practice and suggest strategies for mitigation.
• (4) address all possible factors such as short-term, long-term, small-scale and large-scale effects.
• (5) Consider sustainable aspects such as capacity for assimilation, carrying capacity, and biodiversity protection.
• (6) lay down a flexible approach and provide for public involvement.
• (7) have in built-in mechanism of follow-up and feedback to comply with mandatory requirements.
• (8) include mechanisms for monitoring, auditing and evaluation.

6. What is meant by environmental clearance?

Ans: Environmental clearance or the ‘go-ahead’ signal is granted by the Impact Assessment Agency in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. All projects that require clearance from the central government can be broadly categorised into the following:-

• (1) Industries
• (2) Mining
• (3) Thermal power plants
• (4) River valley projects
• (5) Infrastructure and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone)
• (6) Nuclear power projects.

7. For which projects is environmental clearance mandatory?

Ans: All projects that require clearance from the central government can be broadly categorised into the following:-

• (1) Industries
• (2) Mining
• (3) Thermal power plants
• (4) River valley projects
• (5) Infrastructure and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone)
• (6) Nuclear power projects.

8. What all is assessed under EIA?

Ans: To carry out an environmental impact assessment, the following are essential:

• (i) Assessment of existing environmental status.
• (ii) Assessment of various factors of the ecosystem (air, water, land, biological).
• (iii) Analysis of adverse environmental impacts of the proposed project to be started.
• (iv) Impact on people in the neighbourhood.

9. What is the composition of the expert committee for EIA?

Ans: Composition of the expert committees for EIA

• The Committees will consist of experts in the following disciplines:
  • (1) Eco-system management
  • (2) Air/ water pollution control
  • (3) Water resource management
  • (4) Flora/ fauna conservation and management
  • (5) Land use planning
  • (6) Social Sciences/ Rehabilitation
  • (7) Project appraisal
  • (8) Ecology
  • (9) Environmental Health
  • (10) Subject Area Specialists
  • (11) Representatives of NGOs/persons concerned with environmental issues.
• The Chairman will be an outstanding and experienced ecologist or environmentalist, or a technical professional with wide managerial experience in the relevant development.
• The representative of the Impact Assessment Agency will act as a Member- Secretary.
• Chairman and members will serve in their individual capacities except those specifically nominated as representatives.
• The membership of a committee shall not exceed 15 members.

10. Describe the various components of the process of EIA.

Ans: The EIA process looks into the following components of the environment.

• Air environment
  • Quality of ambient air.
  • Wind speed, direction, humidity, etc.
  • The quantity of emissions is likely from the project.
  • Impact of the emission on the area.
  • Pollution control desires/air quality standards.
• Noise
  • Levels of noise present and predicted
  • Strategies for reducing noise pollution.
• Water environment
  • Existing ground and surface water resources, their quality and quantity within the zone.
  • Impact of the proposed project on water resources.
• Biological environment
  • Flora and fauna in the impact zone.
  • Potential damage (likely) due to the project, due to effluents, emissions and landscaping.
  • Biological stress (prediction).
• Land environment
  • Study of soil characteristics, land use, and drainage pattern, and the likely adverse impact of the project.
  • Impact on historical monuments and heritage sites.

11. Where are experts drawn from for EIA?

Ans: Experts from ecosystem management, pollution control, resource management, land use planning, rehabilitation project appraisal, ecology, and NGOs concerned with environmental issues. 

12. Describe stepwise the procedure for environmental appraisal.

Ans: An Appraisal Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests first scrutinised a project. 

• This committee evaluates the impact of the project based on the data presented by the project authorities. 
• If necessary, the Ministry of Environment and Forests may also, with the investors and hold consultations with experts on specific issues as and when necessary.
• After considering all the facets of a project, environmental clearance is accorded subject to the implementation of the stipulated environmental safeguards. 
• In case of projects where the project proponents have submitted complete information, a decision is taken within 90 days.

Additional Study Materials

• Chapter 21 Concept of Sustainable Agriculture
• Chapter 22 Cleaner Technology
• Chapter 23 Environmental Legislation