HYC demands Centre to recall EIA, 2020
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has demanded the Centre to recall the proposed draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), 2020.
“We demand a complete recall of the proposed draft and register our strong protest against any dilution of the existing provisions of the EIA notification 2006,” HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said in a petition to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through the state forest minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday.
Stating that the draft seems to be appeasing the business and economic interests over environmental interests, Kharjahrin said this is evident from the fact that the draft proposes extension of the time given for submitting a compliance report throughout the term of the project.
According to him, the earlier notification required that the project proponent submit a report every six months, showing that they are carrying out their activities as per the terms on which permission has been given.
“However, the new notification requires the promoter to submit a report only once every year. This leaves a lot of room for promoters to pick and choose the data and information which is to be supplied. Arguably, if a proponent is engaged in developmental activity, he has the scope of either hiding data about the detrimental consequences of the activity or downplaying its impact,” he said.
The petition further stated that instead of focusing on ensuring the protection of the environment, the draft EIA 2020 undermines the orders of the National Green Tribunal which had ruled against post-facto approvals.
“It seems like the purpose of this notification is to legitimize illegalities done by industries. It makes a mockery of the Environment Protection Act by suggesting that an industrial project that has violated the process of seeking approvals will have a right to seek approval despite the wrongdoings,” it said.
The HYC also expressed objection to the manner in which the draft deals with environmental violations by various industries.
“Cases of violation mean instances where projects either started the construction work or installation or excavation or expanded the production or project area without prior environment clearance. In March 2017, the national government had come out with a notification that provided industrial projects with a chance to regularize projects that started construction or undertook expansion and modernization without prior environment clearance. It was supposed to be a one-time chance but since then, the mechanism has turned into a fait accompli situation. The draft EIA 2020 goes a step further as it institutionalizes this fait accompli situation,” it said.
The HYC has also opposed the proposed substitution of EIAs with EMPs (environment management plans) for B@ projects citing that none can argue the fact that even a small project can have a large damaging impact in eco fragile zones.
On the attempt to do away with public consultations, the petition further said, “We opposed this move by the Central government to render the voice of the affected people as immaterial. This condition should be done away with in the Draft.”
Meanwhile, the HYC also slammed the Ministry’s decision to seek public comments, views and suggestions on the draft when the entire country is going through a national health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said the government should provide suitable and adequate opportunity to all concerns to express their views, suggestions and opinions on the impacts and effects of said draft notification if implemented.
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