1. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT

2. EIA
■ Environmental Impact Assessment is a process of evaluating the likely
environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into
account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health
impacts, both beneficial and adverse effects.
■ Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to identify the
environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to
decision-making (UNEP).

3. AIM
To predict environmental impacts at
an early stage in project planning and design,
find ways and means to reduce adverse
impacts, shape projects to suit the local
environment and present the predictions and
options to decision-makers.
By using EIA both environmental and
economic benefits can be achieved, such as
reduced cost and time of project
implementation and design, avoided
treatment/clean-up costs and impacts of laws
and regulations.

4. EIA IN INDIA
EIA activities in India comes under
Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, GOI.
EIA has now been made mandatory under
the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986
for 29 categories of developmental
activities involving investments of Rs.50
crores and above.

5. EIA CYCLES & PROCEDURES
The EIA process in India is made of the following phases:
■ Screening
■ Scoping & consideration of alternatives (Time limit)
■ Baseline data collection(Air, Water, Land, Socio-economic, Biological Impacts)
■ Impact Analysis
■ Mitigation and EIA statement(EMP)
■ Public hearing (Proponents and Decision makers)
■ Decision Making
■ Monitoring the Clearance Condition (Construction and Operation phase)

7. BENEFITS OF EIA
■ Protection of environment
■ Promotes community participation
■ Environmentally sound projects
■ Lower project costs in the long term
■ Increased project acceptance and Improved project design
■ Optimum utilization of resources

8. DISADVANTAGES IN EIA
■ Time consuming and costly.
■ Unavailability for reliable data (mostly in
developing countries).
■ Monitoring after EIA is seldom carried out.

9. SUMMARY
■ What is EIA?
■ What is the need for EIA?
■ EIA in India
■ Steps involved.
■ Benefits and Disadvantages.