Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Environmental Planning & Management
Environmental Planning & Management
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad.
INTRODUCTION
Environmental considerations in energy development and utilization have generally been ignored or neglected in the past in most of the developing countries. In certain cases , this has resulted in adverse impacts on the natural environment by affecting the quality of air and water or by damaging the natural resources
In order to make the development process sustainable , environmental aspects have to be taken into consideration EIA is needed to avoid undesirable and deteriorating changes in the environment EIA is a valuable tool that enables elimination or mitigation of undesirable repercussions on the environment, that arise as a result of contemplated actions
DEFINITION OF EIA
EIA can be defined as a process designed to ensure that all potentially significant impacts are satisfactory assessed and taken into account in planning , designing , authorization and implementation of all relevant type of actions of a development project
In district Energy Planning, a comprehensive EIA allow selection of environmentally sound projects and the incorporation of modifications into the designs of others, so as to reduce or eliminate features that can produce severely detrimental effects on the surrounding environment
FACTORS OF EIA
APPROACH TO EIA
PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES
Describe the proposed action & review the existing legislation
BASELINE STUDY
Description of present conditions,record of what existed in the area prior to an action of a project & review of the existing legislation
IMPACT IDENTIFICATION
Preparation of list of all impacts ,carefully examined & important impacts are selected for detailed study
ASSESSMENT
Comparison of alternatives by assessing environmental gains & losses
MITIGATION MEASURES
Techniques of eliminating all, other than adverse environmental impact
IMPACT EVALUATION
Quantification of impacts & value judgement may have to be used
POST AUDITS
EIAs are based on predictions. Post audits are conducted to determine how close the predictions were to reality
PROPONENT : Government or private agency which initiates the project DECISION MAKER : Designated individual or group or body ASSESSOR : Individual or Agency responsible for the preparation of EIS (Environmental Impact Statement ) REVIEWER : Individual/Agency/Board entrusted with the responsibility for reviewing the EIS and assuring compliance with the relevant guidelines/regulations
Other Government Agencies having special interest in the project Expert advisers Media and Public at large Pecial interest groups : Environmental Organisations , Professional societies,Labour Union , Local Associations
EIA is one of the several kinds of inputs to the decision making process. All
potentially important impacts that are to be assessed for the process are
financial , economic , environmental , social and strategic.
Whoever carries out the eia study of a project , he has to assist the decision maker to take the right decision.The final decision maker is not expected to
The EIA process should look into the following at the design and planning stages:
Review the alternative ways of meeting the overall objective of the project
including the zero option, i.e., not taking up the project at all
Examine the alternative locations for the proposed project,if the same is not location specific (e.g., mining project )
Study the alternative process design,site layouts and other facilities of the proposed project
detailed study
The remaining few no. of alternatives can be eliminated through Rapid EIA process which require 3 months seasonal study and a comprehensive EIA requires full one year study
At the project stage the developer has to consult the general public
important environmental components on which impacts will be assessed are as follows: Water resources: Surface water; Ground water; Water quality; Water transportation
Land
resources: Capture fisheries; Culture fisheries; Forest and Homestead vegetation; Wetlands; Wildlife
Human
CONCLUSION
Once the magnitude and the significance of the impacts have been
Then follows the political decision as to whether the project be accepted,accepted with alteration or rejected
REFERENCE:
A text book of environmental science by Arvind Kumar