UPSC Articles
Amendments made to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 amidst COVID-19
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment Impact Assessment
In News:
- To ramp up availability/production of various drugs against COVID-19, Ministry of Environment has made an amendment to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
- All projects or activities in respect of bulk drugs and intermediates, manufactured for addressing various ailments, have been re-categorized from the existing Category ‘A’ to ‘B2’ category.
- The re-categorization of such proposals will lead to decentralization of appraisal to State Level, thus helping in fast track the process.
- This amendment is applicable to all proposals received up to 30th September 2020.
Important value additions:
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
- It is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project
- It is statutorily backed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
- New EIA legislation, 2006 makes it mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power plants, river valley, infrastructure and industries to get environment clearance.
- The onus of clearing projects is on the state government depending on the size/capacity of the project.
- Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 has decentralized the environmental clearance projects by categorizing the developmental projects in two categories – Category A (national level appraisal) and Category B (state level appraisal).
- Category A projects – They require mandatory environmental clearance and thus they do not undergo the screening process.
- Category B Projects- They undergo screening process and they are classified into two types:
- Category B1 projects (Mandatorily require EIA).
- Category B2 projects (Do not require EIA).
