During the covid-19 pandemic the India’s Environment ministry (The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) has issued a draft environment impact assessment (EIA) notification 2020 to replace the 2006 version. The draft was unveiled on March 11, 2020

The EIA is a very important component in the process of any development projects that can measure as well as stipulate the environmental impact of projects and find ways to reduce their adverse impact upon the environment. An EIA also involves the people concerned in the decision-making process of granting final approval to any developmental project or activity.

In the new draft EIA2020 the government has made various amendments that weaken the whole process of EIA which is said “just to attract more investment and business growth” . Though it has been promised that the procedure of EIA will be conducted in a transparent and expedient way, it is observed that the draft dilutes the public consultation procedure and also exempts several industries to go through this process which can have a severe impact on the environment.

Many environmentalists have raised their concern over this draft and the public consultation period has been extended from 10th June to 30th June for public comments on the proposed changes.