Environmental Impact Assessment is an operation to evaluate the expected environmental impacts of a development or project, taking into view the culture, socio-economic and human-health impacts which are both favourable as well as adverse. It helps in analysing the most possible way of the environmental effects in that particular project, proposes measures to ease the effects and then predict whether there will be notable not so favourable environmental effects, even after the curtailment is implemented.

Environmental Impact Assessment is so distinctive that It hardly needs any adhesions to already arranged environmental consequences. If properly managed, Environmental Impact Assessment also decreases the conflicts by encouraging participation by the community, by appraising decision makers etc. EIA has been overviewed in all the stages of a project, from investigation and planning, through construction, demilitarization, functioning, and beyond site closures.

The United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) states Environmental Impact Assessment as an object used to identify the social, environmental, and economic collision of a project precursor to decision making. It puts its focus to scrutinize environmental repercussions at an early stage of the project design and planning. It systematically found ways to lessen such harmful impacts.

Environmental Impact Assessment in India is statutorily backed by an act namely, Environment Protection Act, which comprises several allocations on the Environmental Impact Assessment process and methodology. It is a procedure to rectify the forthcoming matters or events of the proposed or current action.

History of Environmental Impact Assessment in India

India has been experiencing Environmental Impact Assessment over twenty years back. It begin in 1976- 77 when the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to scrutinize the river-valley projects from an environmental angle. Till 1994, environmental clearance from the Central Government was an administrative decision and lacked legal support.

On 27th January 1994, the then Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, propagated an Environmental Impact Assessment notification making The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) informed new Environmental Environmental Clearance compulsory for modernisation or expansion of any activity or for setting up new projects listed in Schedule 1 of the notification. Impact Assessment legislation in September 2006. The notification makes it compulsory for several projects such as thermal power plants, mining, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, harbours, ports and airports) and industries involving very small electroplating or foundry units to get environment clearance. But, unlike the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 1994, the new legislation has put the onus of clearing projects on the state government depending on the capacity or size of the project.

Objectives of Environment Impact Assessment:

There are various objectives of the Environmental Impact Assessment which are the following as under:

1. Firstly, It leads to forecasting, identification and examining the environmental, economic and social impact of developed activities.
2. For the decision-making procedure, it requires relative information on environmental outcomes.
3. Through the proper mode of identification of a mitigation procedure, It encourages environmentally sound and sustainable development.
4. Moreover, it seeks to grow the apprehensions of the ecological system and natural resources which are necessary to the world.
5. It provides positive as well as negative aspects of any project.

Process Of Environment Impact Assessment

Environment Impact Assessment comprises of the following steps which are the following as under:

1. Screening: The foremost step involves the identification segment. Where it has to be examined as to which part or area of the developmental project needs a full assessment study.
2. Scoping: This involves overlooking those sections which state the potential impacts to evaluate, also to recognize alternative solutions that have been compensating or avoiding those harmful impacts affecting biodiversity.
3. Collection of data: The baseline data has to be collected which states the environmental status of a study area.
4. Public hearing: Mostly after the completion of a project, some groups of people living close by to a project are thereby are provided of the information of the same.
5. Decision making: The discussion leads to the consulted authorities taking charge of the project to take it to a final decision.
6. Risk assessment: Inventory examination and hazardous property and index also lead to Environment Impact Assessment process.
   

Importance of Environment Impact Assessment:

1. 1Environment Impact Assessment connects environment with development for environmentally sustainable and safe development.
2. Environment Impact Assessment provides a cost-effective system to minimize or eliminate the harmful impact of developmental projects.
3. Environment Impact Assessment allows the decision-makers to examine the effect of developmental activities on the environment well before the developmental project is implemented.
4. Environment Impact Assessment promotes the adaptation of a mitigation plan in the developmental plan.
5. Environment Impact Assessment makes sure that the developmental plan is environmentally sound and within the limits of the capacity of regeneration and assimilation of the ecosystem.

Shortcomings of Environment Impact Assessment:

There are various shortcomings in relation to environment Impact Assessment which are the following as under:

1. It costs time delays due to which it delays both the government projects as well as the company projects. This may cause difficulty for clients who have to submit their work before the deadline.
2. However, It needs follow-ups as well as preparations. As many nations face difficulty related to this situation. Sometimes they skip one or both these process.
3. A number of projects with the relevant environmental impacts have been prohibited from the compulsory public hearing procedure.
4. However, the data collectors do not pay respect to the indigenous knowledge of the local persons.