Screening for EIA in India: enhancing effectiveness through ecological carrying capacity approach

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Policy
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Developing countries prioritize economic growth for poverty reduction, often leading to ecosystem degradation.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is crucial for ecosystem protection and sustainable development.
• EIA screening guidelines indicate a nation's commitment to environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze India's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening process.
• To compare India's EIA screening with the European Union's approach.
• To understand exclusions and thresholds in India's EIA screening and their economic implications.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of EIA screening processes in India and the European Union.
• Dissection of the rationale behind exclusions and thresholds in India's EIA screening.
• Discussion of constraints and shortcomings in India's environmental management system.

Main Results:

• India's EIA screening process excludes more activities compared to the European Union.
• Deviations from standard screening approaches are noted in the context of economic development.
• Shortcomings of India's current command and control environmental management system are identified.

Conclusions:

• India's EIA screening system has significant exclusions compared to the EU.
• Constraints and the current management system limit the effectiveness of EIA.
• An ecosystem carrying capacity-based management system is suggested to improve EIA effectiveness from screening to monitoring.