Environment and
Development must go in unison. In the context where development is prioritized.
Especially in a developing country like Nepal where we are thirsty for
construction, protecting the environment is very difficult. I am very sure that
no one is unaware of how important the environment is? So, a small procedure is
added before the construction commences, clearing the EIA. That suggests
consequences brought about by development actions.
What is EIA and its importance?
Environment
Impact Assessment came as a tool to understand environmental impacts that a
project can have, providing alternatives or mitigating measures and promoting
sustainable development. It is a survey on the possible impacts or effects that
a development project might cause after its completion or during the run. EIA
actually, suggests a sustainable development considering the damage to nature.
It helps in the identification and evaluation of project benefits and harms.
Furthermore, this also suggests ways to possible problem-solving.
When did Environment Impact Assessment
(EIA) come into force?
It
has not been very long when people started being aware of protecting nature. Environment Impact Assessment is the result of
“environmental movements of the 1960s”. The concept of EIA is said to have
begun in the USA in 1970 after it formed the
“National Environment Protection Act” in 1969.
After
America, voice for the environmental protection started to rise around the
world. UN Earth Summit held in 1992 brought all countries together
with the common objective of nature conservation. Nepal too has been a part of
many international groups, treaties, conventions, and organizations working for
environmental protection. As an environment protector member country, Nepal has
brought different strategies and implemented laws for the protection and
promotion of mother nature.
When was EIA started in Nepal?
In the case of Nepal, the concept of
protecting the environment was included from the first five-year plan but there
was nothing significant done until the Seventh Five year plan. Where Seventh
Five-year Plan introduced environment conservation policies in Nepal. EIA
Guidelines 1993 and EPR 1997 are the two most important documents regarding EIA
in Nepal. Earlier days for EIA adoption were very difficult when EIA was
prepared for loan and donor agencies as required. Slowly, government projects,
hydro-projects, irrigation projects, and private projects had their EIA
prepared and approved. But now EIAs have become very important and mandatory
documents for almost all projects.
|
1st Five Year Plan
(1980-1985) |
first mentioned the need for EIA for
major infrastructure projects. |
|
1982 |
“Environmental Impact Study Project”
(EISP) under |
|
1982 to 1988 |
EISP prepared draft |
|
1987 |
EIA report
prepared to find the likely environmental impacts of the activities proposed
in the forestry Master Plan |
|
1988 |
Nepal |
|
during the
interim period (1990- |
EIA before
the implementation of any major development project and programs |
|
Eighth Plan
period (1992-1997) |
EIA should be
conducted along with the feasibility study. National Environment Action
Plans. EIA became mandatory. |
|
1993 |
National EIA
Guidelines, IEE/EIA
compulsory to the government sector |
|
1995 |
separate EIA
Guidelines for Forestry and Industry Sector |
|
1997 |
Environment
Protection Rules, IEE/EIA
compulsory to the private sector as well |
What are the components of EIA report?
Environment Protection Rules (1997), suggest which project
requires EIA in Schedule 2. Scoping, Terms of Reference(TOR), public consent,
Environment Management Plan, the recommendation from the local level,
and EIA report reviewed by experts are required to submit for EIA approval. EIA
report should contain detailed information on environmental
protection methods, plan implementation
process, monitoring and evaluation, and environmental auditing. EIA is approved
by the Ministry of Environment. The deadline for approval is 60-90 days after
the submission to the main ministry.
What are the steps of environmental impact assessment?
Proponent
finds a consultancy
Consultancy
hires experts to prepare EIA report
EIA
report is prepared by the experts with the following process
- Project identification
- Screening: A surface study on nature, size, location, and budget of the project to identify where the project requires EIA or not.
- Scoping:
- Impact Analysis
- Mitigation and management findings
- EIA report prepared and reviewed
EIA
report is submitted to the main ministry
EIA
report is cleared by MoE
Post-approval monitoring
What is included in an EIA?
Considering
human activities causing pollution and resource depletion, EIA draws impacts on
different aspects. Initially, EIA covered only natural impacts relating to air,
water, flora, fauna, etc. But with time, it has included, heath, economic and
social aspects as well. It gives impacts on
- Health and Safety of Human
- Biodiversity in flora and animals, habitats, and ecosystems;
- Landscaping, soil, water, air, and climate
- Land, natural resources, and raw materials utilization;
- Scientific, historical, and culturally significant protected areas and designated places;
- Cultural, recreational, and amenity resources; and
- Those whose livelihoods, lifestyles, and well-being are impacted by a proposal.
What is the problem with EIA?
- Hiring experts and consulting firms for the preparation of EIA reports is not in practice. Anyone is allowed to prepare report, so there is problem regarding quality.
- Companies believe that once the EIA report is cleared, environment is safe. But the actual taking care of nature begins after the project commence. There is no proper inspection and follow up regarding where the project is according to the EIA report or not.
- Getting an EIA cleareance process is very lengthy and problematic. This is where corruption find its way. How can the project promise no harm to nature when they are clearing EIAs with money?
- No system for information storage and distribution
What is the criteria to do an impact identification and analysis?
EIA includes physio-biological,
socio-economic, and cultural impacts involved with the project. Similarly, the impact
can be direct, indirect, cumulative, of high severity or low, immediate or long
term, etc. Identifying impact what EIA for, as it opens door to alternatives
and identifying mitigating ways. It can be achieved in the following ways:
- Ad hoc: Experts decide the impacts of their study area.
- Checklist: Potential impacts are listed.
- Matrix: Project activities and environmental characteristics are placed in rows and columns respectively and checked quantitatively whether that very project activity affects that specific environment component or not.
- Network: flow chart with direct and indirect impacts
In
the nutshell, EIA is a very handy tool to identify development impacts on the environment.
It suggests problem-reducing ways and even alternatives available to bring sustainable
development. If the barrier of limitations can be lifted, EIA will grow to be
the most effective way to better environmental protection and achieving
sustainable goals.
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