Kerala registers protest against draft EIA norms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that the proposed EIA notification, 2020 should be introduced only after a detailed consultation with stakeholders. The state, which submitted a list of demands before the Centre on Tuesday, made it clear that ‘many of the recommendations will have severe adverse effects on the state’.

"The state cannot accept many of the proposals mooted in the draft.The situations prevailing in state should also be considered before finalizing it," he said. The government submitted a set of objections to the notification that is aimed at amending EIA notification, 2006.
The main objection is in the conditions set to allow quarrying. As per the new draft, only quarrying in five to 100 hectares needs environmental clearance. Kerala recommended that the stipulation for getting environmental clearance should be from two hectares. For quarrying below two hectares, existing conditions should continue, said the chief minister.
Apart from this, Centre reduced the number of days allotted for public hearing from 30 days to 20 days on the complaints to be heard before sanctioning a project. Kerala demanded reinstatement of the 30-day time period. District environment impact assessment authority played a crucial role in conducting the survey before sanctioning projects in the region. This authority also has a crucial role at the state-level also. However, in the EIA draft, district-level authorities have been abolished. The state wants to restore the district authorities.
CPI state committee also submitted a set of objections to the EIA draft amendment on Tuesday. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said the draft proposals are going to create severe environment impact in India and needs to be withdrawn. The draft is also a threat to development in the country and violates many of the verdicts given by the Supreme Court, he said.
"Just like Justice Varma commission was appointed after Delhi Nirbhaya incident, to suggest suitable law making for protection of women, a committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge along with experts should be appointed to get good suggestions for a comprehensive legislative reform in the subject of environment protection and EIA regime," he said.
Former KPCC president VM Sudheeran demanded withdrawal of the notification. He sent a detailed memorandum to Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar listing reasons why it should be withdrawn.
Former CM Oommen Chandy also urged the Centre to cancel the draft proposals. The draft was prepared without proper discussions with stakeholders. The new proposals should be seen as an attempt to help the quarry mafia, he said.