Environmental Impact Assessment As A Tool Of Environmental Governance: An Analysis Of Policy Reforms In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Apr 30
- 1 min read
Abirami. K, Assistant Professor, Vel Tech School of Law, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
ABSTRACT
Environmental governance is significant in bringing a balance to developmental objectives with ecological protection in the rapid path of industrialization and environmental degradation. EIA is a major regulatory tool that helps anticipate, estimate, and reduce adverse environmental impacts of development projects before actual decisions are made. This paper examines the place of EIA within contemporary environmental governance frameworks, especially regarding recent policy changes and implications for sustainable development. The research work carries out a legal and policy analysis of the evolution of EIA mechanisms, underlining its preventive, participatory, and decision support function. It also critically analyses the recent policy developments in EIA measures with reference to recent policy reforms in dealing with economic development scenarios and the increasing trend of physical infrastructure development, increasing reliance on speedy clearance systems in EIA practices by lowering public participation levels in decision making processes by EIA institutions and embracing post facto clearance of environmental policies with serious implications on environmental concerns. Another important issue to be assessed in this paper is how effectively the recent environmental concerns in EIA practices address recent environmental concerns pertaining to global climate change phenomena, cumulative environmental impacts on development activities, biodiversity concerns in environmental development practices with emphasis on incorporating sustainable development principles in EIA practices with reference to the precautionary approach to development activities.
Keywords: Environmental Governance, Environmental Impact Assessment, Policy Reforms, Sustainable Development, Ecological Protection.
