For all development projects, whether Government or Private, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) requires an impact assessment done by a competent organisation. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is expected to indicate what the likely impacts on water, soil, air, flora and fauna could be if the project is passed.

Getting an environmental clearance:

1. The proposer of the project is expected to apply to the State Pollution Control Board. The PCB checks and confirms that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) can be initiated.

    

2. The project promoter gets an assessment done by an agency who submits a “Report” to the proposer. This may take several months.

    

3. Next, this report of the Environmental Statement is forwarded to the MoEF, which is the impact assessment authority.

    

4. The MoEF has also stipulated that a public hearing should be done at the local level. The Pollution Control Board puts an advertisement about the hearing in the local vernacular press. An Environmental Impact Statement which is an Executive Summary of the EIA is kept for the public to read. The venue and time of the Public Hearing is declared. Once the hearing is held and opinions have been expressed, both for and against the project, the minutes of the meeting are sent to the MoEF.

    

5. The quantity and quality of effluents likely to be generated by the proposed unit as well as the efficacy of the control measures proposed by the investor to meet the prescribed standards are evaluated and a consent is issued if everything is satisfactory.