The changes have been notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to resolve project appraisal delays at the state-level.
Key Features of the Notified Amendments
- Establishment of Standing Bodies (for each state and Union territory):
- Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA): To assume functions of State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for maximum 1 year if it is non-functional or causes delay.
- Standing Committee on Environment Impact Appraisal (SCEIA): To perform the duties of the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) for max 1year, if it is non-functional.
- Extended Tenure: The tenure for EAC and SEAC members has been extended from 3 to 4 years. (Maximum 2 terms).
- The maximum age for appointment is 70 years (75 years in exceptional cases).
- Removal Criteria: Members can be removed in case of delays in processing proposals for the grant or rejection of environmental clearances beyond specified timelines.
- Removal of Central Safeguard: Replaces the former default mechanism (inactive state cases elevated to the Central EAC) with local appraisal by non-expert bureaucratic standing bodies.
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Framework in India
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