A review of the development of environmental impact assessment in India

Abstract

The process of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in India has been one of parallel evolution with the development of an institutional capacity to co-ordinate and monitor the environmental policies and procedures going hand-in-hand with the formulation and implementation of the necessary legislation and regulations. The decrease in the number of projects rejected between 1990 and 1994 might indicate a gradual improvement in the quality of EIAs. Of projects rejected only 12% were on environmental grounds; the others required more information. There are indications that there is a failure to carry out mitigation measures. It is too early to judge the effect of the new legislation introduced in 1994, but the overall number of EIAs should increase.