Adequacy of the follow-up process in India and barriers to its effective implementation

Abstract

This paper examines the effectiveness of EIA procedures in India in terms of the follow-up process. It provides an insight into the legal framework, roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders and the focus of Terms of Reference (TOR) provided for the follow-up. A ‘practice analysis’ was carried out to assess actual enforcement and implementation of environmental stipulations, based on information derived from the official records of regulatory authorities for the industrial estate of Haldia. The analysis was further substantiated through discussions with various stakeholders and personal observations. Several inadequacies were observed during the implementation of the process, in terms of ambiguous conditions, ineffective measures to ensure compliance, vested interests of industrial units, lack of co-ordination and inadequate resources available with implementing agencies. In order to ascertain effective follow-up practice, integrated efforts, i.e. focused and elaborated Terms of Reference (TOR), better monitoring support, extended legal powers, co-ordination among regulators for timely action, self-regulation among proponents and the involvement of local people, are essential.