The draft of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 was put out by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in March earlier this year. The new draft EIA notification, arriving in the midst of a global pandemic, only gave the public the option to share their comments by June 30. While the deadline now stands extended to August 11, the demands and petitions to withdraw the EIA notification 2020 continue to pick up steam. From making it easier for industrial projects to evade environmental clearances to doing away with public hearings with the indigenous and local population to encouraging non-transparency, the draft EIA 2020 dilutes several environmental regulations necessary for protecting the environment.
1. What is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification?
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a significant tool used by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to minimise the adverse impact of industrialisation on the environment. It lays down the environmental clearance processes that a project has to go through before it is given the green light. This involves a thorough screening process by authorities and experts. An EIA is extremely important to minimise the risk of oil spills, gas leaks, and release of other industrial toxins into the environment.
Also read: Need, Not Greed – What Modi Isn’t Telling Us About Climate Change
2. What’s the Problem With the New Draft?
In the new draft of the EIA, several amendments have eased processes for industries to set up projects that could potentially have negative social and environmental impacts.
The draft EIA 2020 dilutes public consultations that is required by a project to be greenlighted and reduces the time period for local people to submit their objections. Due to this, vulnerable communities like tribal people, villagers, fisher communities etc., would be further excluded from the decision-making process of projects that could directly affect their lives. The EIA notification 2006 allowed only six major project types to be spared from holding public hearings. But the new 2020 draft adds around 14 new items to the list. Now, projects like construction of waste treatment facilities and expansion of national highways would be free from holding public hearings.
3. What Can You Do?
After the MoEFCC released the draft EIA 2020 in March earlier this year, there were several protests and petitions filed against the new draft. The last date for public comments was preponed from August 10 to June 30, but Delhi High Court has extended the deadline for public feedback on the draft EIA notification 2020 to August 11.
Therefore, you can:
- Sign petitions opposing the draft EIA 2020. Several petitions calling for the withdrawal of the EIA notification, 2020 can be found online.
- Write an email to the environment minister. You can find several pre-written e-mail templates to the environment ministry online. An activist group called There Is No Earth B, has created a repository of such email templates in several regional languages, which can be found here.
- Read and share news, opinion pieces by environmentalist groups and activists that highlight why we must oppose the new draft EIA notification.
Also read: Here Are 5 Recent Environmental Movements You Need To Know
Whether validity of EC extended from 30/06/2020?
Nooooo
Nooooo
This act is equal to kill our future generations
So we no need this kind of acts
How dare you government do this… You want to grow india or finished off
What is this foolish thing
No, product environment acricalture on tree’s, this plan u consider futcher…
Don’t do this please ????
I am unspport of EIA 2020draft.. this not future,
Oppose
I oppose the EIA 2020 draft
This is totally a stupid concept . Withdraw eia2020
This totally stupid
Don’t do this act
Pls Stop this act ,natural is important, it’s a God gifted on all humans ???
I’am not support EIA 2020 please Banned
Future is gone…..?
Apposed
Craziest think ..
Do not do this….
நீங்கள் சமூக வளர்ச்சி பாதை அமைக்க தமிழ்நாட்டை சுடுகாடு மாற்ற வேண்டும் இது சுந்திரா நாடு தயவு செய்து இதை தவிர்க்க வேண்டுகிறேன்
Nooo don’t approve eia 2020
I am unspport of EIA 2020draft
place change draft
Don’t approve eia 2020
This is not good for the citizens, a govt cannot rule without the support of citizens.
We going to die soonly because of EIA2020 Draf, so totally apposed EIA
Description EIA2020
I do not support they are selling our India in the of development
Am not support this… pls save our nation… live and let live?????????????????????????????????
No
For one drop honey you are giving one bottle honey to nature we didn’t ask those dangerously factory you trying to kill our future generations
i dont support
We don’t need anymore dangerous factories in India.. Don’t kill the nature
We are not the last generation in this world,,.. Pls give some resources and nature to coming generations… Also making alot of money to death is not fair..
I never ever support this EIA 2020 draft
Don’t sell country for money then u will no more for that luxurious life
Stop EIA2020
I never support the EIA 2020 draft
I oppose the EIA 2020 draft. We doesn’t need these kind of act it kills our future generation.Now we buy water which is packed in bottle. Our future generation might buy air from those companies sells in bottle save INDIA stop EIA 2020.
I will not support for this project EIA 2020
I am not support this
No support this eia 2020 draft
No support this eia 2020