Environmental impact

assessment(EIA)
Environmental
impact assessment(EIA) is the
formal

process

environmental
negative)

of

used

to

consequences
a

plan,

policy,

predict

the

(positive

or

program,

or

project prior to the decision to move forward

with the proposed action. Formal impact
assessments may be governed by rules of
administrative procedure regarding public
participation and documentation of decision
making and may be subject to judicial review.
An impact assessment may propose measures

EIA is a study of the probable changes in socioeconomic and bio-physical characteristics of the
environment that may result from proposed
action.
EIA represents a means of evaluating and
simultaneously controlling the quality of the
human environment. It is an intrinsic link
between environment and economic growth and
through evaluation of developmental project it
It
to the
introduce
will has
awarebeen
human indispensable
community about
adverse
environmental
aspect project.
in planning, especially
effects of the proposed
perspective planning and proper designing of
the projects in order to predict the overall risk
arising from any activity and to identify areas
where risk can possibly be reduced. EIA can
thus be considered to be a planning tool which
assists planners in anticipating potential future

EIA

is

Methodology of
Environmental impact
Assessment
a procedure
which ensures

developmental

activities

cause

that

minimal

environmental side effects without reducing

the productivity of natural system. If carried
out properly, EIA can identify major areas of
environmental damage due to developmental
activities in a systematic and compressive

Identify the
Project/Plan/Policy/
Program/Activity

Feedback

Monitoring
and auditing

Implementatio
n
Approval of
the proposed
plan

Analysis by an
interdisciplinary team
of specialists
Identification and
evaluation of likely
beneficial or adverse
environmental
effect/impact
Discussion of
alternatives and
corrective measures
Preparation of the
EIA statement

Rejection of
the proposed

EIA consists of four

phases namely:
(a)Organising the job.
(b)Performing the
assessment.
(c)Writing the EI
(a) Organising the Job: In this step the action
statement
project is identified and an interdisciplinary team
(d)Review of EI
constituted to conduct the analysis. For the success
the analysis it statement.
is important to include variety
problems

necessitates the

agronomists, hydrologist,

inclusion

of

or
is
of
of

geologist,

meteorologists, biologists,

cultural scientists etc. A time frame for the conduct of

the analysis and knowledge of the relevant rules,

(b) Performing the assessment.

(a)A site visit by the interdisciplinary team to determine the
possible environmental impacts of the proposed project
and record the description of the environment as it exists
prior to the proposed action.
(b)Identification and evaluation of the likely beneficial or
adverse environmental effects of the proposed action.
(c)Discussion of the alternatives such as
(i) What are the alternate uses of the site where the
project or activity is proposed to take place ?
(ii)Are

there

any

alternate

means

of

obtaining

the

objectives of the proposed project?

(iii)Preparation of check list for a EIA to ensure complete
coverage of all possible consequences of the proposed
activity so that it can be determined as to what

(c) Preparation of Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS)

(a)Description of the site or environment where the

proposed project is to be taken.
(b)Description of the proposed project, purpose of the
action, its goals and objectives, magnitude of the
action, area, extent, equipments, manpower and
material requirement.
(c)The environmental impact of the proposed project
(that is on air, water, land, ecology, sound, socioeconomics).
(d)The unavoidable adverse effects resulting from the
activity.
(e)Alternatives of the activity.
(f)Relationship between the local short term uses and
long term productivity of the resources involved.
(g)Identifying the measures that can be taken in order
to minimise the adverse effects.
(h)Relationship of the proposed activity to the existing

(d) Review of the

EIS

After it has been written, the EIS is presented to the public

to make the role of public participation more effective in the
developmental planning process.
Responsible and concerned public participation is
important in order to maintain a safe and healthy
environment and upgrade the standard of living by taking
advantages of new technological developments without
exploiting the environment.
The proposed project is made available for public
inspection by publicity through the press. This, coupled with
discussion sessions of the Government agency, the
proponent and the public, provides the opportunity for
obtaining further information and comments from the public
and competent authorities.
A period of at least one month is given for public
inspection and submission of comments to the EIS for final
decisive comments of the competent authority.

EIA is a valuable decision making tool

indicating the
(i) Alternate routes of development.
(ii) Alternate project sites
(iii) Alternate process technologies.
(iv) Carrying capacity of the specific ecosystem.
(v) Quality of the environment before, during and
after the proposed development activity.

The goals of environmental impact

assessment are
(i) Resource conservation.
(ii) Waste minimization.
(iii) Recovery of by products.
(iv) Efficient equipment.

by

Dr. Tapas Ranjan

Sahoo
10