EIA is a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment, and present the predictions and options to decision-makers.
‘Environment Impact Assessment(EIA) as a national instrument shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority’ (Principal 17-Rio Declaration on Environment and Development).
The immediate objective of the EIA is to improve the environmental design of development proposals, ensure that resources are used approximately and efficiently, and also to facilitate informed decision making which includes setting environmental terms and conditions for implementing development proposals. The broader objectives of the EIA are to avoid irreversible changes and serious damages to the environment and to enhance social aspects of development proposals.
Activities that require EIA include ‘activities that alter the physical nature of land’ such as constructions of buildings/works, deposit of wastes or other materials from outfalls, vessels or by any other means, the removal of sand, coral, shells, natural vegetation, sea grass or other substances, dredging, filling, land reclamation, mining or drilling of minerals, but does not include fishing.