Review of current EIA processes and practices in South Asia

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Review of current EIA processes and practices in
South Asia
Dr. Asha Rajvanshi, Wildlife Institute of
India ar_at_wii.gov.in
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South Asia different facets
Diverse and resource rich region
High aspirations for economic development
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The region contains some of the worlds most
ecologically productive and sensitive areas,
including tropical forests, grasslands,
mangroves, small islands and coral reefs
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Diversity of ecosystems and landscapes have
significantly contributed to floral and faunal
diversity of the region
Faunal diversity in South Asia
South Asias contribution to global floral
diversity
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Most populous region of the world
The region is home to over 80 of the more than
one billion absolute poor in the world (people
who earn less than a dollar per day).
Source http//www.sumgenius.com.au/Crowded_Train.
jpg)
Source http//www.mikeyleung.ca/2007/01/09/sundar
bans
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Daunting challenge for countries in south Asia
Compromises with quality and quantity of land
resources in changing scenarios of man land
ratio
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Finite resource base for sustaining lives,
livelihoods and economies is leading to declining
productivity of all types of ecosystems
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All countries are striving to meet the millennium
development goals
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Trigger for Action Findings of the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment
Extinction per thousand species per millennium
Drivers of biodiversity change
Source Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
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Development projects directed at ensuring
economic well-being and improving levels of
material comfort have had unintended detrimental
effects on physical environment, people wildlife
and natural resources
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Lopsided development and the development process
itself have contributed to the deterioration of
environmental situation in the entire south Asia
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Origin of environmentalism

• Most countries in South Asia witnessed the
  emergence of environmentalism in early 80s
• Silent Valley project in India, Mahaweli project
  in Sri Lanka and Magurchhara gas disaster in
  Bangladesh triggered the beginning of EIA
• Environmental disasters such as Bhopal gas
  tragedy (Dec 1985) necessitated the enactment of
  regulations for environmental protection (EPA
  1986) in India

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Triggers for formal EIA

• Increasing recognition and importance of EA
  globally
• International obligations
• National legislations
• Requirements for donor funded projects
• Regional and national conservation priorities and
  environmental consequences of past development
  projects

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Legal mandate for EIA in different countries
Date of enactment
Legislation
Bangladesh
Environmental Conservation Act
1995, amended in 2000, 2002
Environmental Conservation Rules (EIA became
mandatory)
1997
Environmental Court Act
2000
Main Oversight Agency
Department of Environment Govt. of Bangladesh
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Development philosophy Gross National Happiness
(GNH),
Legislation
Date of enactment
Bhutan
First EIA guidelines 1993 Assessment Sectoral
Guidelines 1997 Approval of EIA Act
1999 Environment Assessment Act 2000
Regulation on SEA 2002
Main Oversight Agency
National Environment Commission
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Legislation
Date of enactment
Environmental Protection Act
1986
India
1994 and subsequent amendments
EIA Notification (EIA became mandatory)
Public Participation became mandatory
1997
Ministry of Environmental and Forests (MoEF),
Govt. of India
Re-engineering of EIA Process (scoping became
mandatory)
2002
2006
National Environmental Policy
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Legislation
Date of enactment
1996
Environmental Protection Act
Nepal
1997 EPR amended in 1999
Environmental Protection Rules for categorization
of projects) IEE EIA became legally binding
Main Oversight Agency
Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology
(MoEST)
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Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance
(PEPO) of 1983 (repealed in 1997). EIA became
mandatory for all new projects, since 1st July
1994 Documentation of sectoral guidelines
effective from 1997 Enactment of Pakistan
Environmental Protection Act, 1997 IEE/EIA
Regulations of 2000 provide format of EIA
Reports EIA Review Regulations (2001) for
categorisation of projects
Pakistan
The implementation of EIA system in Pakistan
evolved over a period of fifteen years
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• National Environmental Act No. 47 (1980)
• Coast Conservation Act No. 57 (1981)
• EA was introduced as a legal requirement by
  National Environmental (amendment) Act No. 56
  (1988)

Sri Lanka
Regulations and orders required to implement the
EA process were introduced in June 1993
Categorisation of projects Gazette no. 772/72,
1993 General EA guidelines (CEA)
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• The main goal of EIA is to influence development
  decision-making by providing sound information on
  environmental impacts and the means for
  preventing or reducing those impacts
• EIA is still seen as barrier to development in
  most countries in the region

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EIA reporting
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Decision-making
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Key conclusions
Major limitations
Impacts
Lack of capacity and guidance
Methodological distortions
Inadequate baseline data
Weak basis for impact prediction
Cost limitations
Inadequate scoping
Lack of inter-agency Coordination
Piecemeal assessments
Lack of expertise for assessing impact
Weak EIA
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Potential delays in project implementation
Distortion of cost-benefits (e.g. Narmada Sagar
Project)
Distortion of cost-benefits (e.g. Narmada Sagar
Project)
In adequate outcome from of EIA
Further delays in decision- making
Limited capacity for review of EIA reports
Undermines the benefits of EIA as a decision
support tool
Problems of decision making
Insufficient commitment for follow up
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What PENTA can offer?
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Thank you all.