Debate on EIA

 

 

 

 

DEBATE on EIA (Environmental impact

Assessment)

 For:

• It helps in planning the efficient use of human and natural resources (mass and

material), which has proved valuable to both those promoting development and

those responsible for their authority.

• It may reduce costs and time taken to reach a decision by ensuring that subjectivity

and duplication of efforts are minimized

• It identifies the primary and secondary consequences, which might necessitate the

introduction of expensive pollution control measures.

• The incorporation of EIA into decision making creates a number of benefits. If a

forecast of impacts is available, allowances can be made to minimize the negative

impacts.

• EIA can identify those areas most susceptible to adverse impacts and so guide site

selection.

• EIA can aid the most suitable site in terms of benefit maximization and reduction of

harmful effects.

 Against:

• Poor availability and reliability of data.

• Insufficient training/education in EIA methodologies and in the establishment of

appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangement.

• Negligence of beneficial impacts in EIA reports.

• Lack of consideration of alternative sites, technologies, designs and strategies.

• Insufficient involvement and participation of all interested and affected parties.

• Insufficient emphasis on required cost effectiveness of EIA .

• Lack of follow up monitoring and evaluation.

• Inappropriate recommendations – mitigation/adaptation measures which are not

affordable or feasible in terms of maintenance.

• Poor presentation of EIA results.

 

 

Courtesy: http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/

 

 

-Posted by                                

Mohammed Salih.M