Development at the cost of eco-diversity

SERIN THANKAM SAM

The new draft Environment Impact Assessment (2020) notification of India is widely criticised for its controversial changes in rules. Experts believe most of the provisions in the new draft EIA prove to be a regressive departure from the earlier version. EIA is aimed at the protection of the environment but this draft does not seem to be concerned about sustainable development. This is a pressing issue and it needs everybody’s attention.

Environmental activists, young Indians, political leaders, celebrities and YouTube stars are coming forward voicing their opinions against the precarious draft.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday lashed out at the Centre over the draft environment impact assessment (EIA) notification 2020, saying that it must be withdrawn to stop “environmental destruction”. Gandhi alleged that the aim of the EIA 2020 draft notification was clear “loot of the nation”.

Actor Karthi Sivakumar is one of the first few celebrities to raise his voice against the EIA 2020 draft. The actor, in a press release published in July has said that the proposed EIA 2020 Draft has instilled new fears in the minds of the common man and experts.

Parvathy Thiruvothu is also one among the many who urged the public to raise their voice against the draft.

Eco diversity as collateral

1. Violates Freedom of Speech and Expression

The duration to raise public opinion has been reduced from 30 days to 20 days. Moreover, the draft was put out at a time when public hearing was least possible due to the nation-wide lockdown owing to COVID-19 pandemic.

Apart from this, the new draft has not been translated into all regional languages/22 official languages of India, which directly shuts out the voice of half of the Indian population.

2. Strategic projects

Any project that is related to National Security and Defence are considered strategic but according to the new draft, any development on coastal areas, expansion of roads and so on, will fall under the category of “Strategic Project, and hence the details of such projects will not be disclosed to people.

3. Ecologically Sensitive Areas

According to the existing EIA (2006), wetlands, grasslands, and marshlands are considered as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA). These areas are home to various species of animals, birds, plants and indigenous people and therefore, no industry/business can exist here. But the new draft removes these lands from the ESA category. This will definitely shoot the economic development but at the cost of the environment

4. Allows Post-Facto Approval

It simply allows huge projects to start operations without having a clearance certificate. Thus, the 2020 draft paves way for banned industries to function legally. These include 40 ‘Big Projects’ like coal mining extraction of metals and minerals etc.

Earlier, an exemption was given to projects that occupy less than five acres (20,000 sq.mts) to start their business without approval. But the 2020 draft increases the threshold to 40 acres (1.5lakh sq.mts)

EIA has been amended over 12 times since 1994 and each time changes were made favouring the corporates.

People can send their objection mail to: eia2020-moefcc@gov.in . Augut 11 is the last date to submit feedback against draft EIA 2020 notification.