Diluting the EIA process spells a path of no return

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 Diluting the EIA process spells a path of no return

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• Fridays For Future (FFF): The FFF group received a notice from Delhi police in July accusing it of committing crimes, under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act). The crime was 'sending too many emails' to the environment minister Prakash Javadekar. Subject was "EIA 2020".
• What's the matter: The FFF has steadily protested the dilution of the present norms of conducting EIA (environmental impact assessments) in India, via a new notification that will replace existing EIA. The police thought that the FFF website contained material "dangerous for India's peace and sovereignty". The notice was withdrawn, citing a clerical error.
• Overarching behaviour: That the police could easily use an anti-terror law to silence environmental activists speaks volumes of what's going on. But why was the govt. so angry with the FFF? What is it in new draft EIA that the govt. is so sensitive to criticism?
• COVID-19 and climate justice: Many had thought that the massive damage COVID has done would give the govt. a chance to think about climate justice, because the pandemic has affected human relationship with the environment. The horrible state of public investment in health and education have been exposed already. 
• Back to the normal: The govt. is not at all moved by the lessons of COVID, but is keen on going back to where we were prior to the pandemic - the normal. The new EIA policy wants to dilute all existing environmental norms, and is almost operating in a parallel world where there's no climate crisis at all.
• Origins of EIA: From the 1960s, various countries started legislating or EIAs, to ensure that the State analysed the total impact of any industrial project on the environment, before deciding on it. India's first EIA norms came about in 1994, under the EPA 1986 (Environment (Protection) Act). Now large projects in mining, power plans, airports etc. needed an environmental clearance. But it didn't quite work out.
• The 2006 EIA: Under corporate pressure, a new EIA came about, as everyone believed that the 1994 EIA was hindering progress. Now, new appraisal committees were formed at Centre and State levels, and their recommendations were needed as a qualification for sanctioning. Public hearings were mandated (by Pollution Control Boards) to hear the voice of those living near project sites.
• Failed again: Since final EIA reports never became public, this too failed. Some types of projects were accelerated, and judicial review was limited. Assessment authorities' views were rarely challenged by courts. Soon, the EIA was seen as a mere irritation to be crossed over.
• New draft 2020: Another dangerous turn has arrived, as the govt. wants to dilute nearly everything in EIA. All processes are now less demanding. Some examples - aerial ropeways, metallurgical industries, irrigation projects, etc. Nothing is being done to strengthen the expert appraisal committees, and even public consultations are being done away with. 
• The worst part: Now even post-facto clearances will be given. So companies running projects without clearances can pay a fine and regularise their working. The EIA is all about ensuring that unless it is done, no project can begin. That basic law is being turned on its head.
• Nature will punish us: If the present course of governance continues, then irreversible damage will come to us. Nature remembers for long, and delivers justice mercilessly. Better change course now.

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