Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Global Groupings & GS-III- Environment
In news
Recently, a group of Special Rapporteurs to the United Nations (UN) has expressed concerns over the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2020.
The group has highlighted that the proposed notification appeared to have clauses that obstructed people’s rights to a safe, clean and healthy environment.
There are clauses which exempt several large industries and projects from the public consultation.
It does not require publication of information or holding of public consultation for projects labelled by the Central government as ‘involving strategic considerations’.
It allows for post-facto approval for projects. It means that the clearances for projects can be awarded even if they have started construction or have been running phase without securing environmental clearances.
The group has sought the government’s response on how the provisions of the notification are consonant with India’s obligations under international law.
Indian Government’s Response
The Environment Ministry has held that nothing in the proposed EIA, 2020 violates the UN Declaration of Human Rights and that the rapporteurs’ concerns are misplaced.
It is still a draft and was issued for public consultation.
The imperfections in the existing EIA would be amended in the new notification.
Do you know?
Special Rapporteurs are independent experts working on behalf of the UN. They work on a country or a thematic mandate specified by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
